These 42 Entrepreneurs Embody the Spirit of Fort Worth’s Most Accomplished Founders, Innovators, and Changemakers
‘THE CONTRARIANS’ Presidio Petroleum Goes Public — Its Way
THE FOOTPRINT OF WYATT HEDRICK Father of the Fort Worth Skyline
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From a homebuilder to an ophthalmologist who founded a retina clinic, Fort Worth has a diverse group of entrepreneurs infusing the city with innovation and can-doism.
38 The Contrarians: In a world that’s gone nearly void of independent oil and gas companies — those to which Fort Worth owes much of its prior growth — Presidio Petroleum is going against the grain to restore Fort Worth’s once prominent standing in the industry.
70 The Family Plan: In a world that applauds independence and individual success, those working at these tight-knit companies are choosing to continue a family legacy.
10 Accidental Calling: That time volunteering snowballed into a job and, ultimately, the title of CEO.
16 EO Spotlight: As Gary Mizell, founder of Kore Systems Inc., proves, sometimes landing a job takes starting your own company.
22 Architecture: One of Fort Worth’s most prolific architects, Wyatt C. Hedrick, left his mark on the city's skyline.
24 Accounting: From intern to CEO, Nathan McEown climbed the entire length of the corporate ladder at Whitley Penn.
28 Health & Fitness: TCU professor McKale Montgomery discusses the myths, misconceptions, and benefits of intermittent fasting.
30 Off the Clock: A professional actor and a top Realtor, Matthew Minor sees a lot of parallels between his two vocations.
92 Analyze This/Legal: Don’t be so hasty when selling your business. Here are some things to consider.
92 Analyze This/ Legal: Understand the ins and outs of the Fair Labor Standards Act before handing out those Christmas bonuses.
94 Analyze This/ Wealth Management: According John Loyd, if your plan is to do “nothing” your first day of retirement, it’s a recipe for disaster.
100 Professional Organizations: A handy guide to local entrepreneur, business, and young professional organizations.
104 1 in 500: Chris Huckabee of MOREGroup takes on pro bono work to bring to life structures that provide a positive impact.
WOWNER/PUBLISHER HAL A. BROWN
elcome to the Winter 2025 issue of Fort Worth Inc. — and to a season of celebration for the entrepreneurial heart of our city. As we shine the spotlight on our ninth annual Entrepreneur of Excellence Awards, we salute this year’s 42 honorees and 33 companies that have elevated the bold, pioneering spirit of Fort Worth, from “ordinary” to “extraordinary.”
Their stories remind us that entrepreneurs are the ones who turn bold ideas into resilient enterprises and, in the process, strengthen the economic foundation of our city.
When I started this awards program in 2017, I set out to honor founders who bootstrapped their way to success, CEOs who reinvented existing legacies, and familybusiness leaders who dared to reimagine their lineage.
Nine years later, we are still at it. When this issue is published, we will have honored 90 EOE winners and hundreds of finalists.
But this story isn’t just about individual achievement — it’s about the city behind the entrepreneurs. Fort Worth is emerging as a national hub of innovation and growth. Behind a lot of that growth is the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, led by CEO Robert Allen and board chairman Mike Berry. Last month, the FWEDP held its annual meeting. Since the FWEDP’s inception in 2023, the city has attracted almost $10 billion in capital investment and 11,000 new jobs. Mayor Parker recently stated, “The EDP is leading our efforts to
promote Fort Worth as the best place to do business in the country, and they’re just getting started.”
I believe entrepreneurship is more than a business — it’s an identity. It’s the courage to begin. It’s the grit to persist. It’s the heart to serve our community rather than extract from it. This year’s honorees reflect that DNA.
Inside the pages of this issue, you’ll find the honorees’ stories. You’ll meet the visionary founder who started in a spare bedroom and built a global brand. You’ll navigate the journey of a CEO who restructured legacy operations into growth engines. You’ll uncover the up-and-coming companies that are rewriting the playbook for Fort Worth’s next chapter.
Whether you’re a current or aspiring entrepreneur, a supporter of innovation, or simply proud to call this city home, we hope you’re inspired by what’s here. Because the frontier of entrepreneurship in Fort Worth isn’t in some distant future — it’s right now, in our midst, with boots on the ground and ideas in motion.
Here’s to the builders, the risk-takers, the ones who bring boldness to business and integrity to purpose. The future is here — let’s keep pushing it forward together.
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4, WINTER 2025 owner/publisher hal a. brown president mike waldum editorial executive editor john henry creative director craig sylva senior art director spray gleaves contributing editor brian kendall fwtx.com digital editor stephen montoya photographer richard w. rodriguez copy editor sharon casseday advertising main line 817.560.6111 territory manager, fort worth inc. rita hale x133 advertising account supervisor gina burns-wigginton x150 advertising account supervisor marion c. knight x135 account executive tammy denapoli x141 account executive patrick mccune x158 senior production manager michelle mcghee x 116 contributing ad designer jonathon won marketing director of digital robby kyser marketing manager corinn crippin
corporate cfo charles newton operations manager kaitlyn lisenby
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how to contact us For questions or comments, contact John Henry, executive editor, via email at jhenry@fwtexas.com.
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Milestones are meant to be unforgettable. With five one-of-a-kind venue spaces suited for gatherings large and small, the Fort Worth Zoo is the perfect destination for any celebration, including corporate events, fundraisers, holiday parties or landmark birthdays. From picturesque backdrops and exotic views to the chance for close-up animal encounters, the Fort Worth Zoo makes every event one to remember.
To start planning, visit info.fortworthzoo.org/events
A volunteer stint became a lifelong mission for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County CEO Daphne Barlow.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ
In Daphne Barlow, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County has more than a devoted soldier of compassion as its CEO.
The almost 100-year-old nonprofit has a visionary leader whose two-decade tenure has been defined by entrepreneurial innovation and thoughtful strategy in carrying out its fundamental mission of meeting the critical societal need of molding young people in desperate need of connection and belonging, and positive adult role models.
The organization serves as a vital "third place" for youth, offering a safe and
supportive environment outside of home and school.
“You hear things about the ‘third place.’ Have you heard about this?” she asks me. Nope, I tell her. “It’s the idea that where you work or go to school and where you go home are your first and second places, and your third place is maybe where you play basketball or where you work out.
“A lot of people don't have a third place, but that third place is where you're going to have most of your attachment to making you a better human being.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs is the third place for tens of thousands of young people
in Tarrant County. This third place, she says, “is particularly crucial for providing mentorship and building confidence in young men.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County traces its roots to 1926, when Fort Worth established its first boys club. That year, during the Rotary Club’s annual banquet, guest speaker Lucien Bonaparte Price — owner of the L.B. Price Mercantile Company — and Christopher J. Atkinson, executive secretary of the Boys Clubs Federation of America, challenged local Rotarians to create a club for underprivileged youth.
Price pledged $1,000 of his own money toward the cause but died suddenly soon after delivering his impassioned plea. Inspired by his final words, Fort Worth Rotarians rallied to raise funds by selling “boy bonds” across the city. The new organization was initially called the L.B. Price Memorial Boys Club before adopting the name Panther Boys Club. Its headquarters were on the second floor of a building on East Third Street in downtown. It became the second-oldest boys club in Texas.
Developments under Barlow’s leadership in more recent years have extended the nonprofit’s outreach. The first was a merger of the Fort Worth and Arlington clubs in 2018, creating a unified Tarrant County organization and enabling greater scale and impact just before the start of the pandemic.
COVID-19 actually served as a catalyst for major innovation. In response to community needs, the organization launched the Blue Door Kitchen to provide high-quality, nutritious meals and the Mobile Clubhouse to deliver services to children who had no access to a physical building.
These innovations led to dramatic growth, expanding the organization's reach from serving 5,000 children to 76,000 children annually across Tarrant and Denton counties.
“It's literally having a whole other family that is made to sit there and push you to be your best,” says Ja’Miyah, 17, a Mansfield
In Fort Worth, visionaries don’t just dream — they build and move fast. At Texas Capital, we understand that ambition is more than a mindset — it’s a momentum. That’s why we’re engineered to keep pace with the boldest and brightest ideas. From sophisticated treasury solutions to personalized private banking offerings, we deliver more than financial services — we deliver strategic collaboration. Whether you’re scaling a highgrowth enterprise, navigating complex transactions or planning generational wealth, we’re ready to move at the speed of your ambition. We’re deeply invested in Fort Worth’s future, because we believe the next chapter of innovation and leadership will be written here by the businesses and individuals who dare to shape what’s next. At Texas Capital, we don’t wait for opportunity. We help create it.
high school student who adds that she came into full bloom after being a somewhat reluctant member two years ago. She is the BGCGTC’s 2025 Youth of the Year.
Ja’Miyah, who will be going to Prairie View A&M to study architecture next year, has participated in a variety of clubs within BGCGTC. She founded and coaches a BGCGTC cheerleading team to support the club’s basketball league, and during summer hours, she has led a “morning boogie” dance session. Last year, she was part of a club cohort that traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators and represent the needs of Texas youth.
Barlow, 50, will tell you that it was at the club that her professional life, too, came into full bloom.
“Next year, I will have spent half of my lifetime here working at the Boys and Girls Club, which is equivalent to a quarter of our entire history as an organization,” she reminds. “I didn’t plan to.”
Barlow began her career here as a volunteer at Christmastime, asking for donations for toys for children. She had just recently graduated from college, and a friend asked her to help out.
“I could have never imagined that I would be here at this point in time,” Barlow says. “I sort of fell into it by accident.”
What we call coincidence is often the quiet choreography of purpose, someone once said.
She ended up with a job at the club, and “I really learned the organization from the inside out.” Eventually, she had roles in programs, fundraising, and “really just moved my way through.”
When the longtime CEO left, she threw her name in the hat. She looked at the short list of people who were the last five people to be interviewed by the board. And I thought, “That is not good for this either.”
“I thought I had to go find another job; I can't work for these folks,” she says. “Or I have to apply. Those are my two options. In a split second, I thought, ‘Well, then I'm going to apply. I can do this.”
She became CEO at age 30. It has made all the difference for her, the organization, and the children it serves.
Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership is scoring big, but it's not resting on any laurels.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY
Since its inception two and a half years ago — and a shift in both practice and philosophy
— the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership has rolled out an offense better than most professional football teams. And the data? Stronger than anything the Titans can field. They play in Nashville, right?
Stakeholders gathered Wednesday at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art — named for The Unexpected City’s original economic development champion — for the FWEDP’s annual progress report. The message was clear: Fort Worth is winning. The data and, yes, the U-Haul receipts, align.
Since its creation out of the Fort Worth
Chamber of Commerce, the FWEDP has helped attract nearly $10 billion in capital investment and 11,000 new jobs. “Nearly $10 billion flowing into our community, into our economy, building new facilities and laying the foundation for decades of prosperity,” CEO Robert Allen said. “This is a positive change that will impact our economy for the better for decades to come.”
Allen said the progress cements Fort Worth’s place on the global map for companies seeking a prime location, a growing talent pool, and a business-friendly climate. Examples abound: Siemens is building a $190 million tech manufacturing hub in South Fort Worth; Bell is investing $630 million in a facility for the MV-75; and Wistron is wiring $761 million and hundreds of new jobs to the area.
Compared to peer cities, Fort Worth is outpacing the field. In the same two-year span, Nashville landed $5.6 billion in capital investment and nearly 10,000 jobs; Jacksonville, $3.6 billion and 7,000 jobs. Allen hinted at more victories ahead. “We’re going to be proactive, strategic, and relentless in making Fort Worth’s business case,” he said, with the same grit Mick used to push Rocky Balboa through his trials. The FWEDP, he added, has identified 500 companies across sectors like aerospace, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, and film production that may soon hear the “Why Fort Worth” pitch.
“This is a great place to do business,” said James Litinsky, CEO of MP Materials. “And that has been our experience every step of the way. It’s very clear when you look around at all the competitive areas — but it’s obvious Texas wants to do business.”
Onward, Cowtown.
Trey Bowles and Ryan Brown’s 1845 Venture Studio believes DFW is the next frontier for startups.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY
Trey Bowles and Ryan Brown’s new enterprise rests on one guiding truth: The next frontier of American innovation runs straight through Texas.
That has become a familiar refrain heard across the world, very much turning the rest of the country Kermit green — at least to those who haven’t moved here already. The business climate in Texas simply aligns with ambition, particularly for those bold few who aspire to step out on the ledge to start their own business.
There is plenty of room for new beginnings in North Texas. From the east and the west, from the north and the south, the builders, dreamers, and doers are gathering with designs on exporting their innovations to the world. They are betting big on North Texas pasture.
1845 Venture Studio is Bowles and Brown’s new startup foundry. It is part incubator and part investor. The “1845” is a nod to Texas’ fertile ground — the year the fledgling republic came into faithful union, with one notable incident of infidelity, with the United States.
The duo is unapologetically bullish on the 28th state, specifically the ecosystem of the entire North Texas region.
“Everything that a founder needs to be successful exists here,” Bowles says. “We truly believe that over the next 10 years, all roads lead to Texas.”
The timing for 1845’s launch is strikingwhile-the-iron-is-hot-type stuff, says Bowles, because of a surge in corporate relocations and executives to DFW, as well as local capital and talent pools maturing. In addition, there is a national interest in secondary innovation markets beyond Silicon Valley and Austin.
Theirs is a different approach to starting companies.
1845 Venture Studio was formed through a partnership with Eagle Venture Lab and its founder, Wade Myers, a veteran of the venture studio model. Myers has built and backed businesses across the globe.
The idea of the studio as a true “cofounder” rather than just a passive investor is a central theme.
1845 Venture Studio partners directly with founders, stepping in as a true cofounder. 1845 Studio provides not only capital but also a team, infrastructure, and hands-on strategic guidance to transform raw ideas into scalable businesses.
The approach stands in contrast to traditional venture capital or accelerator models, which typically invest after launch or offer limited mentorship. 1845 Studio, by contrast, is fully immersed in the early, high-risk stage.
“Companies fail not because a founder doesn't have a good solution or product that’s needed,” Bowles says. “They fail because typically that founder doesn't have experience building a company, and it’s the 25 other things that you have to do that get their heads spinning around in circles.”
Bowles and Brown both know Fort Worth well. Bowles served as executive director of TechStars Fort Worth. Brown most recently served as CEO of TechFW, a nonprofit startup incubator and accelerator that has supported over 200 companies since its founding in 1998.
“Ryan and I have built [between them] tens and tens and tens of companies, and so we’re going to come in and do that with and for the companies so that he or she, as a founder, can focus on product-market fit, selling to the right customer, and growing.”
Port of Dreams: A Texas Comptroller report shows AllianceTexas generated $834.6 million in trade in 2024. Since its inception, the development has attracted $16.3 billion in investment, supported about 137,000 jobs, and produced $4.17 billion in property taxes since 1990.
New Leadership at Bell: Danny Maldonado will succeed Lisa Atherton as president and CEO of Fort Worth-based Bell, effective Jan. 4. Atherton has been appointed CEO of parent Textron.
Historic Achievement: U.S. Energy Development Corporation, a Fort Worthbased exploration and production company marking its 45th anniversary, has been honored by Historic Fort Worth Inc. with a Preservation Project Award for the restoration of its headquarters — the historic Armour Building in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
A New Line of Business: Crestline Investors, Inc., a global alternative investment manager, launches the Crestline Lending Solutions Fund, a perpetual private business development company. It will primarily invest alongside Crestline’s direct lending strategy, which in the past year has committed $1.9 billion across 46 transactions.
Birdie Bucks: Charles Schwab Challenge and Fort Worth Colonial Charities announces that close to $19 million was generated through this year’s Birdies for Charity program during the 2025 tournament at Colonial Country Club. Thirty-three charity partners are benefitting.
Built for Conservation: Texan by Nature, the conservation nonprofit founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, names Fort Worth-based Acme Brick Company the top honoree on its 2025 Texan by Nature 20 — recognizing Texas companies for leadership in sustainability. DFW Airport and Texas Health Resources also made the list.
It's a Great Place To Work: Great Place To Work® and Fortune names Texas Health Resources one of the 2025 Best Workplaces for Women, marking its ninth appearance on the list. The organization ranks No. 41 among 100 large employers.
Next Wave Rising: Pine Wave Energy Partners, a portfolio company of Old Ironsides Energy, completes the sale of its East Texas assets to Rockcliff Energy III LLC, a portfolio company of Quantum Capital Group, the company announces .
Like many young people raised in rural Texas, Gary Mizell got anxious about seeing the world outside of the confines of Eastland, home of Old Rip, the horned lizard said to have been found in a time capsule in 1928.
As the story goes, he had slept off the previous 30 years in hibernation.
Suffice to say, there was nothing sleepy about Gary Mizell, who wanted to go do things — to borrow a sports metaphor, to dive for loose balls. Hustle. In the 1990s, he started traveling the country working, mostly industrial work.
“The economy was booming,” he recalls. Pursuit of a living brought him, among other places — to all 10 states and other countries around the world — Alaska, Pennsylvania, and California.
He founded Kore Systems Inc. in 2007 in the Silicon Valley. It’s a professional services organization providing process automation and control systems integration services to industrial settings.
He moved the company to Fort WorthDallas in 2015. Today, Kore Systems is headquartered in Bedford. Rather than Eden, the state of California is more like quicksand for business or its employees.
“I wanted to get out of there pretty bad,” Mizell says. “We still have a lot of work in California, but I was in Silicon Valley. I was across the street from Nvidia and right down the street from Apple. I would bring engineers over from India and train them, and then they would take them. All day long.
“Plus, the quality of life out there for employees on a normal salary, it's pretty low. Coming out here, my staff is happier on the salary we’re paying them. They have a better quality of life, which is a better [work] culture.”
Gary Mizell took his Texas work ethic global before bringing Kore Systems home.
WORDS
BY JOHN HENRY PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ
He found his “gift” in industrial technology as a young man right out of high school. He went to work for a big petrochemical company. There he was sent to trade schools. He was soon programming systems for big chemical plants.
“Some people take years to find their gift, but I kind of found it,” Mizell says, “and it just took off.”
How did you guys start Mean Green? We just never could find anybody that would hire us early on. It seemed like more work to find a job than it was just to create our own work. We've never worked for anybody but ourselves.
Who was your most influential mentor? Probably Chris Smith. He was the CEO of Ahtna. I was the communications manager designing the systems to stop nuclear materials from moving in and out of the shipping ports, all airports, all shipping ports, and all border crossings around the world. He's the one who sent me overseas to build these systems and trusted me to do that, and really just threw me into the fire.
What was your first job? Mowing lawns in junior high. My dad was a service writer in the automotive industry. When I was 14, he got me a job at a body shop. I learned how to do paint and body.
Do you have weekly or daily habits? I made a big switch right after I moved to Texas … a big shift. My dad got me into hypnosis meditation, all this other stuff. I do two things. When I get up every morning, I get right on the floor and meditate. And then I do hot yoga at least every other day. I see Troy Aikman there twice a week!
“Some people take years to find their gift, but I kind of found it, and it just took off.”
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In 20th-century Fort Worth, few shaped the skyline like Wyatt C. Hedrick.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY
Society has mythologized eccentricity as an essential trait of genius. We expect geniuses to be odd, so we interpret quirks through that lens.
Quite simply, extraordinary minds live differently.
Wyatt C. Hedrick certainly would seem to qualify. Though a Cadillac man with two parked at his home, and one each at his offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston, Hedrick was said to prefer bumming rides from friends and colleagues, employees, and other company executives to get around Texas.
Hedrick’s commute to his Dallas office was unconventional, to say the least. According to a report years ago by the Star-Telegram, Hedrick would hitch a ride to the old Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike — now simply Interstate 30 — slip past the tollbooth and thumb another ride off someone he knew on the other side.
That qualifies as different, but Hedrick was different in every sense as an architect and engineer.
Hedrick’s Fort Worth-based company was one of the largest in the country at the time of his death in 1964 at age 75. The firm had completed jobs all over the world and had more than 900 on the payroll.
Wyatt C. Hedrick Architect and Engineer had revenues of more than $1.3 billion between
1922 and 1963. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $13 billion today.
Hedrick's footprint in Fort Worth and across the Southwest is immense. Dozens of his buildings still rise across the city, their design as striking today as ever. His Art Deco and Zigzag Moderne works are counted among the best examples of their kind anywhere.
Hedrick's firm was responsible for many of the city's significant Art Deco buildings, including the Will Rogers complex, the T&P Terminal and Warehouse, and the Central Fire Station. Hedrick and his chief designer, Herman Koeppe, also designed Carter Riverside High School and the city’s — that is, Amon Carter’s — Greater Southwest International Airport.
His vanished landmarks include the Medical Arts Building and the Aviation Building, both demolished in the 1970s. According to Southwestern Architect magazine in 1928, the Medical Arts Building was voted by Texas architects as one of the 12 best buildings in Texas.
“They kind of worked hand in hand because Hedrick wasn't a trained architect,” says John Roberts, an architect and board member of Historic Fort Worth Inc., of Hedrick and Koeppe. “Hedrick was a trained engineer. So, Koeppe did a lot of these designs.”
Hedrick was born to a family of tobacco farmers in Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College in 1909 and followed that with an engineering degree in 1910 from Washington and Lee University.
He moved to Dallas for work at an engineering firm, but in 1914 he formed Hedrick Construction. In 1921, he became a partner in the Fort Worth architectural firm, the famed Sanguinet & Staats.
“They named their firm Sanguinet, Staats, and Hedrick,” Roberts says. “St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church and the Fort Worth Club are two of the few buildings in that transition period that had the credit of all three architects.”
Hedrick bought out his partners in 1922.
With a distinguished look and celebrated identity, Hedrick, according to a profile in the Star-Telegram, caught the eye of Madison Avenue. He was featured in Lord Calvert’s “Men of Distinction” campaign — a whiskey ad that cast him as the picture
of midcentury success: poised in his office, a model of his Shamrock Hotel gleaming behind him, and a highball glass in hand.
The timing of the campaign couldn’t have been worse. Hedrick was then building a project at Baylor University, the world’s largest Baptist educational institution with J. Frank Norris ties that treated alcohol consumption with scorn and revulsion, as well as a moral failing. When the ad ran, the reaction was said to be swift and final. Baylor severed ties, and Hedrick was never invited to build there again. Texas Tech University, TCU, and Texas Wesleyan University had no restrictions on such social enterprises. He designed several buildings on each campus.
The last building in Fort Worth with Hedrick’s fingertips was the Fritz G. Lanham Federal Building in downtown, Roberts says.
It was being constructed when he died in 1964 at age 75. The firm closed its doors shortly after.
Medical Arts Building, 1926
Construction of the Medical Arts Building cost in excess of $1 million in 1926 ($18 million in today’s dollars). It was another building with design by Sanguinet, Staats & Hedrick. The building, now demolished, sat on the site of the current Burnett Building, facing Burk Burnett Park. It contained 16 stories and 250 offices. The building was financed by Jesse Jones, Houston businessman and future Secretary of Commerce in the FDR administration. “The building will be one of the most unusual and unique structures of its kind in the United States,” Hedrick said, “in that it will be faced on four sides by brick and stone. As a general rule, only three sides of a corner building are constructed in this manner.” The second floor included a 400-seat auditorium.
The materials on the three-story "H"-shaped school are yellow brick, red clay tile roof, and a projecting stone entry. The design is a Spanish Baroque. It was one of five high schools built in the city with funding from the Works Progress Administration. (Arlington Heights, I.M. Terrell, North Side, and Polytechnic were the others.) In 1954, Hedrick's office designed a sympathetic addition to the rear of the building. The landscaped front yard, which includes a park shelter, was designed by Hare & Hare Landscape Architects from St. Louis as a part of the WPA. — Architecture in Fort Worth
Central Fire Station, 1930
Herman Koeppe of Hedrick's office designed this facility, which is actually two separate buildings. The larger building is the station itself, and the smaller building is a fire alarm signal station. These buildings are good examples of the Zigzag Moderne style of the Art Deco era. One notable feature of the building is a 70-foot-high siren tower located to the rear of the station. The tower looks like a miniature version of the Will Rogers Pioneer Tower, designed by Koeppe a few years later. As with many Zigzag Moderne buildings, the fire station uses ornate brickwork to carry out the design. — Architecture in Fort Worth
Lone Star Gas Co., 1929
The four-story building was opened in 1929 with capabilities for an expansion of three floors, which were added in 1957. Those were also designed by Hedrick. At that time, the blue flame neon sign of the Lone Star Gas logo was installed on top of the building. The building features Art Deco styling and has a beautiful lobby that has been restored. So, too, has the blue flame, restored and reinstalled by the city in 2023. The city of Fort Worth Water Department currently occupies the building. — Architecture in Fort Worth
Downtown Post Office, 1933
The Texas limestone structure is a mix of beaux arts and classical styling. The classical column capitals on the building feature Texas longhorn and Hereford cattle, and the cornice is ornamented with lion heads. The most dramatic space within the post office is the lobby, which runs the entire length of the building. Although it was constructed as a part of the Texas and Pacific Railway Complex, Hedrick chose to turn away from the Art Deco styling. The Post Office opened under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. — Architecture in Fort Worth
Greater Southwest Regional Airport, 1953
The Greater Southwest Regional Airport, the Fort Worth International Airport, or Amon Carter Field — pick a name — was open to traffic in 1953. It was the result of Fort Worth’s and Dallas’ failures to come to an agreement to build a metropolitan airport to serve the region. The airport was bulldozed when the cities finally agreed to build Dallas Fort Worth International Airport near the same site. The inside of Greater Southwest Regional Airport was quite decadent.
Nathen McEown’s two-decade rise from intern to CEO at Whitley Penn makes him something rare.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY IMAGES BY RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ
Nathen McEown admits that he’s somewhat of a unicorn. He has spent his entire career at the same accounting firm. That’s about as common today as a Blockbuster membership card.
“It probably happens in public accounting a little more often than others, but yeah, these days, there's not a lot of folks
that have been at one job their whole career,” McEown says. “But I've had so much fun being here. I just can't imagine being anywhere else.”
McEown began his journey at Whitley Penn as a green college intern in the Dallas office in 2004. More than 20 years later, he is the firm’s CEO, having succeeded Larry Autrey in January.
McEown moved into the top role from his post as partner-in-charge of consulting and chief growth officer. McEown’s ascent began in 2016 when he “kind of raised my hand” to lead the somewhat new Houston office.
“I can remember interviewing with Whitley Penn, and in that interview I think I said I wanted to become partner, so I always had kind of a goal,” McEown says. “Then as I got closer to partner, I just fell in love with the business, and the business of public accounting is just so people-focused. I really loved it and the dynamics of it.”
Upon the announcement of McEown’s appointment — as well as Toby Cotton becoming COO — Autrey said he was “beyond thrilled” for the two.
“I have personally mentored both Nathen and Toby for many years and believe this is the best transition strategy for the future of the firm,” Autrey said. “As tenured Whitley Penn partners, they will hold our culture and mission of superb customer service as core pillars of what makes Whitley Penn unique.”
Autrey, who has more than 30 years of tax, advisory, and business valuation experience focused on public and private clients, had served as the CEO for Whitley Penn for more than 20 years. He moved into the role of executive chairman.
Under his leadership, the firm expanded exponentially, from 50 to nearly 900 employees. The firm has nine offices across Texas and New Mexico, with eight of them opening under Autrey's guidance.
Moreover, Autrey led the firm through more than a dozen acquisition events.
The leadership transition began about two years ago, McEown says. When the change officially took effect this year, there wasn’t much change because McEown says he and Cotton had already taken on many of the day-to-day tasks.
“Larry had a great vision, and he did a lot of things in passing off certain duties to me and Toby Cotton,” McEown says. “We kind of eventually started doing things that he was doing. A lot of the dayto-day tasks that Larry was handling, he already very wisely and discreetly kind of was clicking off.”
Whitley Penn in March ranked No. 34 in Accounting Today’s “Top 100.” The firm also ranked 36th among the tax firms, as well as the second-largest firm in the Southwest.
McEown has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Texas Tech. A native of Rockwall, McEown went to college with an eye on computer science.
“That was the hot thing,” he says of computer science in the late 1990s. “I think it was the highest paying major at Tech. That's how I picked my degree, which is a terrible way to pick your degree. I had no passion or interest in it, and soon as I started programming, I realized this wasn't for me.”
His objective turned to doing something that offered job security.
“I decided I needed to go somewhere where there's always going to be work,” he says. “And accounting was that. It definitely was the right option for me. Then I got into the industry and just fell in love with public accounting.”
McEown’s career at Whitley Penn has been a steady ascent marked by leadership, innovation, and an eye for growth. He joined the firm as an auditor and rose through the ranks to become audit partner in 2015.
As Whitley Penn’s former energy practice leader, McEown worked closely with private equity-backed energy companies and spearheaded several initiatives, including the launch of the firm’s Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS), Energy Outsourced Accounting, Land Administration, and Mineral Management divisions.
After relocating his family from Dallas to Houston in 2016, he led the Houston office as partner-in-charge for six years before joining the firm’s management committee in 2022 as partner-in-charge of consulting.
In 2024, he took on the role of chief growth officer, identifying and leading two key acquisitions that further strengthened the firm’s consulting practice.
As CEO, McEown continues to champion professional development through the firm’s Growth Champions initiative, helping senior managers prepare for partnership.
“Luckily, Whitney Penn allowed me at a young age to do a lot of things that a lot of bigger firms wouldn't have,” McEown says. “So, I'm pretty fortunate that I always had support behind me.”
Beyond his executive responsibilities, McEown is a recognized industry leader. He co-authored “PPC Practice Aids for Audits of Oil and Gas Entities,” published by Thomson Reuters, and has been honored by the Dallas Business Journal as both a “Who’s Who in Energy” and “40 Under 40” honoree.
McEown also serves on Texas Tech University’s Accounting Advisory Council. He received his bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from there.
Outside the firm, McEown is deeply
involved in community leadership. He co-founded the Bayou City Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization in Houston, where he serves as learning officer, and chairs the audit committee for the American Council on Exercise Fitness nonprofit.
McEown takes charge during a time of change, perhaps even volatility. Artificial intelligence is uncharted territory for firms across the country. Its role in public accounting is evolving.
“The biggest challenge to public accounting in general right now, probably two things,” McEown says. “One, AI. How will that shape, change the way we work? I don't think it's going to replace us, but I think we all need to learn how to use AI and leverage it to kind of upskill. That's going to be very dynamic over the next five years.
“And then private equity getting into the space. Zero firms were owned by private equity in 2020, and today there's probably 20-plus firms in the top 100 owned by private equity.”
McEown says the firm’s objective is to roughly double its revenues, to $500 million, by 2030. He says it can do that with an if-it’s-not-broken-don’t-fix-it mindset. The firm has flourished during the past 10 years.
“We’re going to continue on that mindset,” he says. “I think we're going to focus on finding those M-and-A opportunities that are creative but not necessarily marketed deals — something that maybe we build through a relationship and continue that organic growth.”
He says he’d like to continue to grow the advisory practice, which is about currently 26% of the firm's revenue. A double down in Texas just might do that, he says.
“The big key is you have to grow to provide opportunity for those below us,” he says. “It's really to keep the best talent and people satisfied. As long as we're growing enough to provide that opportunity, then we're in a pretty good spot.”
Everyone’s skipping breakfast to burn fat. TCU’s McKale Montgomery says your body’s already one step ahead.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY
When it comes to diet, intermittent fasting is trending. It isn’t so much a diet as it is a pattern — alternating periods of eating and fasting. Common approaches include alternate-day fasting, the 5:2 method — five eating days and two fasting days per week — and time-restricted eating, which limits food intake to a set window each day, such as eight hours of eating followed by 16 hours of fasting.
While the idea may seem counterintuitive to generations raised on “three meals a day,” fasting aligns closely with how human metabolism naturally functions. After eating, the body uses glucose and fat for energy and stores the excess as glycogen and fat tissue.
Roughly three to 18 hours after a meal, as glucose levels drop, the body begins burning stored glycogen and fat. Once glycogen is depleted — typically after 18 hours to two days — the body relies more heavily on fat and begins producing ketones for energy.
This transition explains fasting’s reputation as a “fat-burning” state, though the body still requires some glucose, which it generates by breaking down protein through a process called gluconeogenesis. In other words, fasting doesn’t make the body burn only fat; it triggers a series of complex metabolic shifts that balance energy needs from multiple sources.
So, does it work for weight loss? Yes — but not for magical reasons.
One of the biggest misconceptions about
intermittent fasting, says McKale Montgomery, a registered dietitian and professor in TCU’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, is the belief that changing when you eat fundamentally changes what your body burns for fuel. “People tend to think that when they’re in a fasted state, they’re burning fat — and when they’re fed, they’re burning carbs,” she explains. “But that’s not really how it works.”
Instead, the body operates on a finely tuned fed-fast cycle, a system designed to keep energy levels stable regardless of when you last ate. Whether fueled by food or by stored energy, metabolism constantly adjusts to use whatever source is most efficient. “Your body is clever,” Montgomery says. “It’s built to keep you running optimally all the time.”
Studies show intermittent fasting can lead to modest weight loss and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol, but results are similar to those from standard calorie-restricted diets. The real reason fasting works, Montgomery says, is simple: People tend to eat less overall. About threequarters of the lost weight is fat, and the rest is lean mass — the same ratio seen with traditional dieting.
There are caveats. Fasting can make it harder to meet nutrient needs, and without exercise, much of the lost weight may include muscle. Long-term studies on safety and sustainability are lacking, and most people find the regimen difficult to maintain around family meals, holidays, and social events. (Tell me about it.)
“The compliance on intermittent fasting after just a few weeks is terrible,” Montgomery says. “Even participants who are getting paid to be in studies often can’t stick with it for more than six or 12 weeks. It’s a huge inconvenience.”
The bottom line, she says, is that intermittent fasting can be a useful tool but not a metabolic miracle.
The gold standard remains simple calorie awareness. “In theory, it’s the most sustainable,” Montgomery says. “You don’t have to go hungry or skip meals — just be intentional. Most people don’t think about food until they’re hungry, but if you want to moderate intake or lose weight, you have to think ahead. It takes thought.”
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After a decade on New York stages, Fort Worth native Matthew Minor found his next role in real estate. He’s still in the spotlight.
WORDS
BY JOHN HENRY IMAGE BY RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ
Matthew Minor and I are both awaiting orders from the photographer.
We’re standing on the storied stage at Casa Mañana, where generations have performed, albeit not necessarily in the
half-moon. This place became famous as a theater in the round. They would run sets down the aisles. To the uninitiated — like me — it seemed like a logistical nightmare waiting for litigation.
But Minor knows this terrain like the
back of his hand. Every inch of it.
Another member of our conversation mentions the 1,000 seats in here.
“1,001,” Minor jokingly corrects. “When they converted this to the half-moon, I did the first production — a musical called ‘Summer of ’42.’ I’ve been around these halls for a while. It’s a great theater.”
In fact, Minor estimates that he’s been in upwards of 50 productions here, including his very first. He was in the fourth grade at Country Day. He was a Casa Kid. That was the start of a love affair with the stage that has taken him to “The Theater Capital of the World,” where even off-broadway feels like the big stage.
He has done a few films and television, “but really what I've always loved is stage acting,” he says.
Minor, 37, is a residential Realtor for Compass, where in five short years he has made a rise on top Realtor lists. It was, he says, a natural fit for him when he pivoted — only slightly — as a professional actor.
When he’s not negotiating real estate transactions, you might find him on stage.
If memory serves me well — a big if — he most recently portrayed Prince Albert Edward, “Bertie,” the playboy Prince of Whales in “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Souffle” by David McGregor at Stage West.
He calls that credit “the most fun role I’ve ever played,” a flamboyant and hammy spoiled brat of a British prince (are there any other kind?) and future king who believes he’s the target of a murder plot. And who better to get to the bottom of it than Sherlock Holmes?
Those are the only roles he auditions for these days — those that he really wants to do. “I only do it if it's a role that is good that I want to play. I don't audition for every little thing.”
By the way, he volunteered that “Bertie” was a particular favorite. I later felt like I made a mistake when I asked him to list off five favorite roles. It’s tantamount to the question, “Which is your favorite kid?”
“That’s a hard question,” he says. “I’ve
found value and growth in most roles I’ve played.”
He played along, nonetheless. Good actors are willing to be directed, after all.
His other roles (these are not necessarily his “favorite”) have included Reiver in “Crossing the Line” and Roy in “The Death of Walt Disney,” both at Amphibian Stage; Ellard Sims in “The Foreigner” at Cape Playhouse in Massachusetts and
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Florida; Horton in “Seussical the Musical” at both Casa Mañana and the National Tour; Bear in “White People” at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City; Lexy Mill in George Bernard Shaw’s “Candida” at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre; and Bobby in the stage adaptation of “Deliverance.”
His role as Dragline in “Cool Hand Luke” in the award-winning Godlight
Theatre Company in New York, he says, was a favorite. He performed in several other roles at the Godlight and is still a company member there, traveling back to work with them when able.
In New York he also did “Lord of the Flies.” He played Piggy. This topic came up in passing as we chatted.
“It was sad,” he says, deadpan. “You get killed every night. I got killed every night.” Then he snaps back to reality, dropping the role of clever subject, and says with a big smile, “No, it’s fun.”
A graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York, Minor is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.
Before performing as Horton in “Seussical” last year, Minor’s last role at Casa was as a 15-year-old, an interim of 20 years.
Minor was born and raised in Fort Worth. He went to Country Day up until high school. He graduated from Arlington Heights.
Theater was, of course, a prominent part of his life every step of the way.
He went to Oklahoma University to hone the craft. He stayed there for two years before being called to something bigger: New York City. At 20 years old, he dropped into the Big Apple to chase this dream of the stage on the biggest stage of them all.
“I had wanted to go for so long,” he says. “I was just kind of wanting to get into it. I felt like I was really trained.”
He says he had the support of his parents, who urged him to “go do your thing.”
After all, what are your 20s for, if not the pursuit of a dream? There is no better time to take a leap. How does one even begin to start as an actor in New York City? Knock on doors? Just show up?
“Yes,” he says laughing, indicating that it’s all of that. “I found it incredibly nervewracking to move to NYC before I even turned 21. But I had begun acting professionally before I left elementary school. I remember going to college and feeling like I’d ‘learned it all.’ And I don’t mean that to say I was any good, I was just ready to stop learning how to act and go do it.”
He stayed there for the next 10 years, working all over the country as an actor based in New York.
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“I loved living there until I didn't. That city is a grind,” Minor says. “When I went there, I was so young and scrappy that it was fun, but then after a while, it just got to be too much of a grind. I lived such
a simpler half of my life here [laughing]. I was spending two hours a day on the subway — at least.
“But I’m proud that I relied on my raw talent and ability, which offered me the
chance to experience the city at such a young age.”
He says real estate was always the plan when he returned home. He loves this career. It starts with a passion for interior design, a reverence for great architecture, and an instinct for transformation — seeing not what a space is, but what it could be.
It’s a set, after all.
“Absolutely,” he says when asked if his life and career in theater have helped him as a Realtor. “Being an actor in New York City trains you in many ways. Perseverance, effort, honing a craft, cultivating beauty. Real estate awakens all of my senses. There is an art to not only staging a home but pricing it. I take pride in curating not only a performance onstage, but the sale of a property. I believe art and commerce do go hand-in-hand and feel blessed to pursue both.”
He had thought about doing real estate in New York, “but I just didn’t have the network that I have here. I had a great start just with my family and friends alone.”
He did some interior design stuff in New York.
Even the theater community is a great network. He sold a house just this summer to a castmate in a show at Stage West.
“Also, I know these streets and neighborhoods like the back of my hand, just being from here.”
When he left 16 years ago, he didn’t necessarily think he was coming back. It’s part of youth, the thought of leaving home and never coming back.
“I love Fort Worth,” Minor says. “I always thought when I was a kid that I would never stay around. But then when I would visit over the years, I'm like, this is a really cool city. And for acting, I've been a union performer since I was 20, so I can only do shows at professional theaters. Fort Worth has the most professional theaters of any city in Texas, not just North Texas. More than Dallas, more than Austin. More than even Houston.
“We have great arts in Fort Worth, don't we?”
Honored to be named a finalist in Fort Worth Inc.’s 2025 Entrepreneur of Excellence Awards as we celebrate 90 years of innovation and growth.
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In a consolidating industry, Fort Worth’s Presidio Petroleum is betting big on old wells, new tech, and the city’s legacy of independents.
By John Henry
Stepping into the lobby of Presidio Petroleum’s downtown Fort Worth office, a bookshelf immediately catches my attention. A title jumps out at me: — The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power. “Have you heard of that book?” Will Ulrich, picking up on my distraction, says to me. “This is basically the whole history of the oil and gas space, essentially up until the shale revolution. Do you want it?” Perceiving my reluctance, he insists I take it, assuring me he has more copies. Once upon a time, Ulrich continues, he gave out Daniel Yergin’s epic narrative like candy on Halloween. The story — blending history, political drama, and biography — of the role oil played in shaping the modern world is clearly one he wants conveyed to any willing listeners.
However, the reason I’m here at the company’s headquarters isn’t for a book club meeting. It’s to hear Presidio’s story, a tale it’s adding to the book on Fort Worth’s imprint in the oil industry.
This chapter is probably best titled “The Contrarians.”
In an era when many independents have been absorbed by larger producers or private equity firms, Presidio Petroleum represents something rare — a Fort Worth–based oil and gas company determined to grow by doing things differently.
The company is positioning itself to become one of the only small-to-mid-cap public exploration and production firms with a distinctive model focused not on drilling but on disciplined operations and value creation.
Rather than chase high-decline drilling programs, Presidio specializes in acquiring and optimizing mature, long-life wells
others overlook — properties with predictable production and decades of remaining potential — and applying a data-driven operational model to extract more value from those assets.
The company has been successful.
Founded in 2017, Presidio built its footprint in the Western Anadarko Basin, spanning western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. The company operates more than 3,000 maturing wells and expects to average 26,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day this year. Presidio is the second-largest operator in that area.
“We’re firmly positioned on the yield side,” Ulrich says, rather than wildcatting and drilling new wells. “All the assets that we bought were all basically just focused on acquiring existing cashflow, cutting operating expenses, expanding margins, so we create more cash and then hand out dividends to investors. If you look at the world today, that was the contrarian view.”
And now, as the company prepares to go public through a SPAC merger, its leaders see not only an opportunity to scale but also to restore Fort Worth’s standing as a center of energy innovation and independence.
Presidio announced this summer a merger with EQV Ventures Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: EQV), a special purpose acquisition company, which will result in the formation of a new public entity, Presidio Production
Company.
It will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker, appropriately enough, “FTW.”
The public markets are where Presidio belongs, Ulrich says, even though the recent record of public oil companies has been something akin to the 1972 Texas Rangers.
“As we think about where the long-term best place for our strategy to live, it's with the public markets because though we're starting now with almost 100% institutional investors, as we mature as a public company, this is going to be owned by retail investors.
“And, so, again, I say we’re contrarian because we've lost, like, 30% of public oil and gas companies over the last five years through mergers, consolidation, et cetera. There really haven't been many new ones to replace it, less than five. So, it's kind of continuing with that contrarian philosophy of we want to be where others aren’t. And in this case, it's the public markets.”
The oil and gas industry is undergoing what analysts at Ernst & Young call a “seismic transformation,” driven by a surge in mergers and acquisitions that have reshaped the competitive landscape.
According to EY’s latest benchmarking study, the number of top publicly traded exploration and production companies in the U.S. has shrunk from 50 to just 40, a
“If
you look around, there have been some nice kinds of financial successes, but there's been no kind of reboot of a desire to build a large-scale oil and gas organization in Fort Worth. And that's very much our intention.”
group now responsible for roughly 41% of national production. Deal activity soared to nearly $207 billion last year — up 331% from 2023 — fueled by megadeals exceeding $10 billion in value.
EY analysts say the sector’s next chapter will favor companies that pair operational efficiency with capital discipline as they navigate shifting prices, tariffs, and geopolitical pressures.
Presidio plans to initiate a $1.35/ share annual dividend, representing an industry-leading 13.5% yield at $10.00/ share, supported by stable, hedged production and minimal capital reinvestment. With expected net production of 26,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d) in 2025 across over 2,000 wells in Texas, Okla-
homa, and Kansas, Presidio projects strong cash flows with just a 3% reinvestment rate.
Presidio sees a rare opening in an industry where consolidation has left few independent players. They are clearly inspired by Fort Worth’s history of can-do oil-and-gas entrepreneurs.
“All the assets that we bought were all basically just focused on acquiring existing cashflow, cutting operating expenses, expanding margins, so we create more cash and then hand out dividends to investors. If you look at the world today, that was the contrarian view.”
The company’s first acquisitions in 2018 were backed by Morgan Stanley Energy Partners, followed by a major deal with APA Corp. (the parent of Apache) the next year.
The entrepreneurs behind it are Ulrich, 42, and Chris Hammack, 50, who both serve as co-CEOs. Their divergent backgrounds would make fodder for comedians. One — Ulrich — is a Harvard graduate in economics who began his career in investment banking. The other is an
Aggie with a degree in petroleum engineering who grew up in Texas.
Apache, Hammack says, was the company’s growth multiplier. Presidio cut operating costs in the first year by about 60%.
How?
“It really comes down to focus,” says Hammack. “Their model is about drilling and growth; ours is about efficiency and operations. Could they do what we do? I'm going to argue there's no way they could do it as good as we do, but could they do it better than they did? Yes, but they shouldn't because they're focused on the big-picture stuff. We don’t have drilling or frack engineers. We just focus on one thing: making money at the field level.”
The key to making money at the field level is empowering the guys there, both CEOs say.
Ultimately, the guys on the ground are entrepreneurs.
“We call them small businessmen,” Ulrich says.
Says Hammack: “That’s the secret sauce. We do a lot of things at the corporate level on cost savings, but the ultimate goal, and the way that the business model kind of feeds on itself, is that you have to have the field guys take control of it.”
The staff on-site is empowered to make the best economic decisions at the wells.
“They see ’em every day,” says Hammack. “They know how to get the most out of ’em. What tools can we give you in Fort Worth to make your job easier so that you can operate your set of wells like a small business?”
Many of the Apache holdovers celebrated their change in fortune, telling the Presidio guys, Hammack says, “This is great. This is what we used to do. This is what Apache used to do back in the ’80s, ’90s. This is what we were good at when Apache was great.”
Before Apache went into development.
From the start, Presidio’s founders recognized that running leaner than their peers would require more than just good management. It would demand smarter systems. Off-the-shelf oilfield software, they found, was antiquated and incapable of supporting the kind of operational precision they envisioned. So, they built their own.
“That was one of the early theses that we had — if we wanted to be able to go and do these cost cuts and also run this business with dramatically less overhead than others are doing it, we need to deploy technology and that's probably going to be proprietary technology,” Ulrich says.
its system, turning field intelligence into predictive analytics and automated insights that guide operational decisions in real time.
Ulrich and Hammack go back about 15 years. Hammack, who started his career at Union Pacific Resources, had been on the operating side of several private equitybacked ventures in Fort Worth. Ulrich was working in corporate development for Atlas Energy, which bought Hammack’s company, Titan, in 2012. Hammack and his partners basically became the management team for the reborn Atlas.
The two went their separate ways but remained friends.
“We just decided through our friendship that if the time ever came to do some-
Ulrich and Hammack are, in a sense, descendants of the early oil pioneers chronicled in The Prize. In the 1850s, Yale chemist Benjamin Silliman Jr. analyzed a strange “rock oil” for a pair of investors — New York lawyer George Bissell and New Haven banker James Townsend — who imagined that the dark liquid bubbling up in western Pennsylvania could do more than cure headaches. When Silliman’s tests proved oil could be refined into a clean-burning fuel, their faith sparked the world’s first organized petroleum company and ignited a new industry.
Much like those early visionaries, Ulrich and Hammack saw value where others saw exhaustion — in mature wells overlooked by modern drillers.
What began as investor-facing rhetoric in 2017 — the promise of custom technology underpinning a contrarian business model — has since become a daily modus operandi. Presidio’s engineers and field staff collaborate to design internal apps that streamline fieldwork, unify data, and eliminate inefficiencies.
Now, having standardized and cleaned massive datasets inherited from prior operators, the company is layering artificial intelligence and machine learning atop
thing, it would probably be a lot of fun to do something together,” Hammack says. “The idea was, I mean, if you're going to start an oil and gas company, you had two people to run it: Harvard finance guy and an Aggie engineer. Kind of makes sense.
“The opportunity presented itself. I was winding up a company, he was winding up a company in 2016. We just got together and said, ‘Hey, if we're going to do something, now is the right time.’ We were developers, too. That's what we did prior to forming Presidio. But the idea was, ‘Listen, we've been in that game, we've seen the ups and the downs and the sideways and those kinds of things. If we wanted to do something different, what would it be?’”
Fort Worth, too, has a great history in oil and gas.
Presidio is also a descendant of the great Fort Worth independents, like Sid Richardson, Eddie Chiles’ Western Company, and Bob Simpson’s XTO. In 1998, Jon Brumley cofounded Encore Acquisition Company with his son, Jonny. Their model was acquiring oil and gas properties with longlived reserves. They, too, went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2001, later selling to Denbury Resources in 2010.
Hammack calls Brumley a mentor who “took me under his wing very early on through a lot of weird circumstances and kind of helped guide me in my career over the years. You think about how those guys started businesses and how they've done things and been so successful.”
Says Ulrich: “I think there's also an integral tie into Fort Worth, which is, this was historically a very big oil and gas town. As a part of that consolidation we've been talking about, it's been shedding jobs and people leaving Fort Worth. If you look around, there have been some nice kinds of financial successes, but there's been no kind of reboot of a desire to build a large-scale oil and gas organization in Fort Worth. And that's very much our intention.”
They built it here. They’re flourishing here. Meet the city’s 42 Entrepreneur of Excellence winners and finalists.
BY
JOHN HENRY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ
Founded in 2016, Fort Worth Inc.’s Entrepreneur of Excellence program has celebrated the region’s most visionary business leaders for nine years. The program honors innovators whose ingenuity, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit have reshaped industries, built community, and strengthened Fort Worth’s economic future.
We celebrate original founders who bootstrapped their dreams from scratch or raised capital to scale their ideas; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into existing organizations; and family business leaders who reimagined legacy models for a new era.
In the realm of entrepreneurship, the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary — and the entrepreneur is the pioneer and builder, creating through seeming magic.
They turn dreams into reality, ideas into innovation, and challenges into opportunity. With determination as their compass, they carve new paths through uncharted terrain.
Fort Worth Inc.’s 2025 Entrepreneur of Excellence are a portrait of those people — individuals who jumped headfirst into their dreams, often on faith — or even simply a Big Chief tablet — alone.
This year’s 42 honorees and 33 companies span commercial and residential construction, consumer and durable goods, health care and life sciences, hospitality, private equity, professional services, real estate, and three up-and-coming companies.
As in past years, applications were judged independently of Fort Worth Inc.’s ownership and staff. Business leaders from across the region reviewed each application confidentially, evaluating them on sales and profit
growth, best practices, ethical standards, innovation, perseverance, and community involvement. Judges made their decisions this summer, selecting finalists and winners.
Financial performance data remains confidential.
This year, we’ve done things a little differently. Instead of dividing the honorees into industry categories, we present them together — a collective portrait of excellence, innovation, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Fort Worth.
All were honored at a black-tie gala at the historic Fort Worth Club on Nov. 13.
We thank Whitley Penn, which served again as Presenting Sponsor; Texas Capital Bank is the Platinum Sponsor; Phelps is the Gold Sponsor; and Justin Boot Co. is Boot Sponsor.
Bryan Braswell
Braswell Custom Homes
For Bryan Braswell, construction is a lifelong calling that began at the impressionable age of 14.
Starting on a remodeling crew, he learned the trade from the ground up, moving from the field to supervisory and management roles. Those early years instilled not only a deep respect for craftsmanship but also a work ethic and business discipline that would define his entrepreneurial journey.
The 2008 financial crisis proved to be his greatest test … and teacher. As the housing market collapsed, he learned lessons that shaped the way he does business today — from managing cash flow and maintaining liquidity to structuring debt responsibly and planning for multiple future outcomes.
“It taught me to plan for multiple future outcomes,” the UT Arlington graduate says, “and not just for the best one.”
Those hard-earned lessons became the foundation for Braswell Custom Homes, founded in 2011, which has grown steadily ever since.
In 2021, he launched Rancho Ladera, a premier gated residential development in Aledo. The planned community features expansive 2- to 3.5-acre estate lots. The first home sale in 2022, a 4,861-square-foot custom residence selling for $2.2 million. With Braswell Custom Homes leading construction and a curated group of elite builders on board, both phases of Rancho Ladera sold out quickly.
Bradley Bruce mForce Capital
For Bradley Bruce, success in business has always been about people and purpose.
After more than three decades in the corporate world, Bruce recognized that clients needed something more — deeper service, greater independence, and a true fiduciary partnership. In 2021, he founded mFORCE Capital, a Fort Worth-based wealth management and family office firm built on one guiding principle: If one puts clients first, growth will follow.
Launching a new brand in a crowded market came
with challenges, but Bruce’s vision was clear. Starting with just three employees and new technology, mFORCE has since expanded beyond Fort Worth with offices in Dallas, Arkansas, and North Carolina.
By leveraging alliances with other professional service providers, Bruce has broadened the firm’s capabilities and accelerated both organic and inorganic growth. His client-first philosophy drives a culture focused on authentic, long-term relationships that help families navigate every stage of life.
The company’s Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework promotes
accountability, transparency, and work-life balance — fostering loyalty and excellence across the team.
Bruce’s leadership has earned recognition from Barron’s, Forbes, and AdvisorHub, and under his direction, mFORCE continues to post double-digit revenue growth while maintaining strong profitability.
Tyson Collins’ introduction to manufacturing began early.
“I was immersed in machining from a young age — working alongside my dad at just 5 years old,” he recalls.
The story of Collins Custom Manufacturing traces back to 1993, when his father opened a small Fort Worth machine shop serving one oilfield client. Collins later earned a finance degree from UT Arlington and built a successful career as a stockbroker, but he never lost his passion for making things that last.
Encouraged by his wife, he returned to join his father and help grow the business. What began as a modest
operation evolved into a certified aerospace manufacturing company serving major clients like Lockheed Martin and Bell, supporting both defense and commercial programs. Collins even developed a solution for Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility that outperformed major engineering firms and saved the company an estimated $100 million.
“These successes, along with many smaller wins, have propelled us forward without outside investment,” he says. His vision centers on full, fast, turnkey aerospace manufacturing through vertical integration — producing machined parts, sheet metal, wiring harnesses, and complete assemblies in-house.
“We draw inspiration from large, investor-backed companies,” Collins says, “but operate with the agility and creativity of a small business.”
Courtney Crawford
Star Retina
Since opening Star Retina’s first clinic in 2021, Dr. Courtney Crawford has built one of North Texas’ fastestgrowing retina specialty practices — now spanning four clinics in Fort Worth, Burleson, and Granbury. His mission is clear: to treat every patient like family while advancing the science and accessibility of retinal care.
“We are committed to restoring and preserving vision with expert care and personal attention,” he says.
A graduate of Washington University, Crawford founded Star Retina to pair worldclass medical expertise with genuine compassion. Starting as a single-provider practice,
he faced the dual challenge of rapid growth and a competitive health care landscape. His leadership — grounded in empathy and excellence — fueled success through word-of-mouth referrals and strong physician partnerships.
Today, Star Retina treats thousands of patients across Texas and conducts 30-plus clinical trials for breakthrough retinal therapies. Crawford’s commitment to integrity is reflected in personal accessibility to patients and providers, rapid report turnaround, and efficient clinic operations.
Star Retina also gives back through vision walks, health fairs, and medical missions worldwide, with plans to launch a nonprofit offering free local eye care. The practice continues to expand, with a new Fort Worth headquarters and two new physicians joining in 2026.
Jennifer Johns and Robert Johns
The Kitchen Source
When Bob Johns moved to Texas, he didn’t plan to enter the retail industry. Working as a manufacturer’s rep for a top cabinet company, he soon saw a gap in the market — and an opportunity to transform the kitchen remodel experience.
In 1991, he founded The Kitchen Source with a simple belief: The kitchen is more than a place to cook — it’s where families connect, stories unfold, and life happens. What began as a small, family-run cabinetry business has grown into
a full-service design and remodel firm serving clients across the U.S., with showrooms in Dallas, Southlake, and Fort Worth.
In 2013, his daughter, Jennifer Johns, an Aggie and VP of Operations, joined the company, bringing a background in technology that modernized systems, streamlined workflows, and elevated client experience. Together, they’ve built a culture of collaboration, accountability, and craftsmanship.
The company’s success is fueled by trust — 75% of its work comes from referrals. Guided by the mantra, “A
customer is the most important visitor on our premise,”
The Kitchen Source has become known for precision, service, and heart.
The firm also opens its showrooms for nonprofit events and supports causes such as SafeHaven, a Wish with Wings, and cystic fibrosis research.
Alex Klinedinst Bluebird Creative Co.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Bluebird Creative Co. is a full-service marketing agency specializing in branding, digital strategy, social media, and design for clients across health care, real estate, and professional services.
Entrepreneurship is part of Alex Klinedinst’s DNA. A third-generation business owner, she launched Bluebird to fill a gap for results-driven marketing rooted in honesty, simplicity, and agility. What began as a one-woman operation with a laptop and loyal dog has grown into a 10-person agency serving 250-plus clients and generating nearly $2 million in annual sales.
A certified Women’s Business Enterprise and member of the American Advertising Federation, Bluebird leads with innovation and integrity. The agency integrates
AI-driven tools to boost creativity and efficiency while maintaining the human connection that defines its brand. Its AI-supported website service enables small and mid-sized businesses to compete at scale.
Inside the agency, Klinedinst fosters collaboration, encouraging employees to identify improvements and share in company wins. Beyond business, she gives back through nonprofit partnerships, mentoring emerging creatives and serving on boards that promote education, entrepreneurship, and inclusion.
Sandra McGlothlin Empire Holdings
Sandra McGlothlin is the chairman and CEO of Empire Holdings, a Fort Worth-based real estate development and investment firm specializing in industrial, commercial, and build-to-suit projects across Texas.
She founded the company after building Empire Roofing into one of the nation’s largest commercial roofing firms. Recognizing an opportunity to bring strategic industrial development to underserved markets, she launched Empire Texas Equities, now Empire Holdings.
Under her leadership, the company has developed more than 85 properties and 1.1 million square feet of space, earning a reputation for precision, partnership, and performance.
McGlothlin is recognized for her ability to identify opportunity, execute complex projects, and cultivate endur-
ing relationships. Her civic and industry leadership includes service on the boards of the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (as its first woman president), North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber, CREW, The Women’s Center, and Baylor.
Her vision for Empire focuses on long-term value creation, sustainability, and community impact — transforming overlooked sites into job-creating assets through disciplined execution and strong partnerships.
A decorated entrepreneur and industry pioneer, McGlothlin’s honors include Extraordinary Woman of the Year, Commercial Real Estate Icon in Texas (2024), Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year, and Latina Legends Entrepreneurial Award.
Christie K. Moore
Mansfield Funeral Home & Cremations
Nothing in this world, Calvin Coolidge once wrote, can take the place of persistence. Not talent. Not genius. Not education.
“Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent,” the former president said.
We need look no further than Christie Moore, CEO of Mansfield Funeral Home. A three-time finalist in the Upand-Coming category, she returns this year as an Entrepreneur of Excellence. Moore has built one of North Texas’ most respected, woman-led
funeral service organizations, with locations in Mansfield and Frisco.
Her journey began at just 9 years old, when she first felt called to serve others as a mortician. After earning degrees from Hampton University, Tennessee State University, and the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, she went on to teach there before opening her own firm. Defying early rejections based on gender and age, she transformed a struggling business into a thriving enterprise.
Moore’s vision is to rede-
fine the funeral experience through healing-centered, personalized services that blend tradition with innovation — from digital memorials to modern planning options. Under her leadership, revenue grew 24.5% in 2024, with profits more than doubling.
Her Christie K. Foundation extends her mission, providing grief, health, and financial literacy programs for women and families in need.
Vicki Nivens
Hard Eight BBQ
Hard Eight BBQ is more evidence that no good story begins with a salad.
“Hard Eight BBQ began as a dream sketched out on a Big Chief tablet,” says Vicki Nivens, “and one too many cocktails.”
Nivens turned those ideas into one of Texas’ most beloved barbecue institutions. Founded in 2003 in Stephenville by Nivens, her late husband, daughter Carie, and son-in-law Chad Decker, Hard Eight began as a family dream with no restaurant experience — just a passion for people and hospitality.
The first location — modeled after the family’s
hunting lodge — opened in 2003. From day one, Hard Eight’s hallmark has been its authentic Texas barbecue experience, where guests pick their meats straight from the pit. That signature approach fueled its growth into a fivelocation staple across DFW with a thriving nationwide e-commerce business.
Hard Eight’s success reflects Nivens’ people-first leadership. Many employees have been with the company since day one, a testament
to the culture of loyalty and collaboration she’s built. Her hands-on style and deep community involvement have made Hard Eight a steadfast supporter of schools, first responders, and local causes.
Nivens has been honored as Granbury Chamber Business Woman of the Year and Distinguished Friend of Tourism in Hood County.
Ben Rosenthal and Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld
Standard Meat Company
For Ben Rosenthal and Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, leading Standard Meat Company isn’t just about continuing a family legacy — it’s about reimagining it for a new era.
“The company’s vision can’t be handed down from on high,” they say. “To take root, it has to emerge from what the company already is.”
As fourth-generation leaders of the Fort Worth-based
business founded in 1935, the brother-and-sister team — Ben as CEO and co-president, Ashli as co-president — have transformed Standard Meat from a regional processor into a global innovator in protein processing, packaging, and food solutions.
After regaining full ownership from a corporate partner, they modernized the company through advanced
technologies, new product categories, and expanded facilities. Their agility proved crucial during the pandemic when they pivoted to produce sustainable ice packs, making Standard Meat the largest protein supplier in that emerging market.
Today, the company operates five plants across North Texas, including the just-opened, next-generation
facility in the Fort Worth Stockyards, employing more than 1,100 people.
Under their leadership, Standard Meat has doubled EBITDA in six years, fueled by reinvestment and innovation. Their purpose — “to inspire the connections and breakthroughs that feed our life” — reflects their belief in service, creativity, and community.
Ken Schaefer has spent three decades building one thing with relentless purpose: an agency that makes life better for its people, its clients, and its city.
His entrepreneurial spark lit early. While a student at Stephen F. Austin State University, he launched a gelato company. “That experience ignited a lifelong passion for building things,” he says.
After graduation, Schaefer joined Procter & Gamble, then moved to Ogilvy & Mather, managing the Shell Oil account. Eventually, Fort Worth called. As director of marketing at Justin Boots, he fell in love with the city — and in 1995, founded Schaefer Advertising Co.
His standard was simple: “Create smart work for good people and serve with excellence, integrity, and
purpose.” Over 30 years, that clarity has grown Schaefer into a full-service, integrated marketing firm of 40-plus associates, partnering with institutions such as the Fort Worth Zoo, TCU, the City of Fort Worth, and Alcon.
After the sudden loss of business partner Bobby Blanchard in 2014, Schaefer led the agency forward — stronger and still independent. His “Make Life Better” philosophy fuels the firm’s culture, mentoring programs, and community service, including more than $4 million raised for local education and civic initiatives.
Raised on a Georgia tree farm by a U.S. Marine drill sergeant father and a pediatrician mother, Dr. Jason Tinley grew up with equal measures of discipline, curiosity, and compassion — along with a few “bonewrangling” adventures that hinted at his future in medicine.
After earning his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, he gravitated toward orthopedic and spine surgery, a demanding field that combines the precision of neurosurgery with the craftsmanship of orthopedics.
In 2008, he founded the DFW Center for Spinal Disorders, offering minimally invasive and disc-replacement solutions for conditions like herniations, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis. With offices across Fort Worth, Abilene, Stephenville, Arlington, Decatur, and Willow Park, the center serves patients throughout North Texas. Tinley has helped pioneer techniques transforming complex spinal procedures into outpatient surgeries. As co-founder of HD Lifesciences/NanoHive, he helped lead advances in 3D-printed titanium implants that revolutionized spinal fusion technology.
Beyond surgery, Tinley is an entrepreneur and leader, serving as board chair of Baylor Surgical Hospital and founding partner of Texas Health Orthopedic and Spine Center in Willow Park. A devoted Christian, he views his work as both calling and stewardship — uniting faith, science, and innovation to improve lives and modern medicine.
Benson Varghese Varghese Summersett
Benson Varghese likes to say that long before he built a law firm, developed legal technology, and wrote a book — he ran a rubber plantation in India.
And it’s true. He did.
Born in India and raised in Dallas, Varghese was sent back to South Asia after “one too many schoolyard dustups,” where he attended
boarding school and managed his family’s business — rubber — by age 15.
At 18, he returned to Texas, earned his GED, graduated from SMU, and received his law degree from Texas Tech University.
After serving as a prosecutor in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, he launched his own defense firm in 2014 with $9,000
borrowed from an uncle.
In less than a decade, Varghese Summersett, the firm he runs with his wife, has become one of America’s fastest-growing private companies — recognized three times by Inc. 5000.
From 2021-24, revenue surged 335%, transforming the firm into an eight-figure enterprise with offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Southlake, and
Houston, practicing criminal defense, family law, and personal injury.
This year, Varghese launched Lawft, a law firm growth platform, and published Tapped In: Lessons for Law Firm Growth.
He was also honored with the Richard L. Knight Rotary Minority Business Award for leadership and innovation.
The John Zimmerman Group
For more than three decades, John Zimmerman has helped shape Fort Worth neighborhoods through an unwavering dedication to excellence and authenticity in real estate.
“I want everyone to see the best of what Fort Worth has to offer and find the perfect place to live, work, and raise a family,” he says.
As the founding agent of Compass Real Estate’s Fort Worth office and leader of The John Zimmerman Group, he has become synonymous with luxury real estate across North Texas.
Zimmerman began his career in 1992 as “the low-
est guy on the totem pole” for developer Tim Fleet. Immersed in every facet of the business, he developed a rare ability to see potential where others saw raw land — a skill that led him to pursue real estate full time.
Today, his firm delivers a client experience defined by precision, creativity, and personal commitment. His initials on the company name serve as both promise and standard: Clients receive Zimmerman’s handson involvement, market expertise, and network in every transaction.
Ranked No. 1 by The Wall Street Journal for 12 years as a top Realtor in Fort Worth, Zimmerman is also deeply involved in the community, serving on the Alzheimer’s Foundation Board and supporting numerous philanthropic events.
TX Black Belt Academy
When Donnie and Celeena Bedore joined TX Black Belt Academy, the brand had one location and a struggling second. They bought that failing school, transformed it into the Fort Worth headquarters, and made it profitable within months. Building on that success, they developed a repeatable franchise model that fueled TXBBA’s statewide growth. Their results came not from luck or outside capital but “from relentless work, smart reinvestment, and a shared belief that martial arts changes lives.”
Founded in 2012 by Joe Brown, HF Custom Solutions began with T-shirts sold from his home to TCU fraternities and sororities. When Brown lost his full-time job, he turned that setback into a launching point, growing HF into a 20-person team serving hundreds of clients and reaching new million-dollar milestones year after year. Vice President of Operations Carolyn Phillips helped strengthen systems, culture, and growth. Together, they’ve built a thriving, values-driven company known for innovation, teamwork, and a hands-on commitment to doing business differently.
Andrew Clogg didn’t grow up dreaming of business. His mother was a teacher, his father a pastor. He married his wife two days after graduation and found his way into waste management sales. In 2012, he launched Sundance Disposal to serve Fort Worth’s small businesses. “Today, we’ve grown fivefold in value,” with 25 employees and a 15-truck fleet. Over the past three years, annual sales have grown more than 56%.
Joseph DeWoody and Clifton DuBose
Valor
Under the leadership of Joseph DeWoody and Clifton DuBose, Valor has achieved exceptional growth and operational excellence. Since its founding in 2018, the Fort Worth-based asset management firm has grown revenue by 2,150%, averaging 103% annual growth while remaining profitable and independent. Valor manages client assets across 30 states, leveraging AI-powered automation to streamline operations and maintain workforce stability. With successful third-party compliance audits, the company has earned trust from major institutions, including Texas’ largest bank.
Albert Fialkovich
Transworld-Prospere
Albert and Jessica Fialkovich turned their first business sale — right out of college — into a lifelong mission to help others do the same. After purchasing a Transworld Business Advisors franchise, they built it into the No. 1 office worldwide since 2016 and expanded into Transworld-Prospere — a portfolio that includes business brokerage, commercial real estate, and consulting. With over 1,500 transactions closed, disciplined growth, and a people-first culture, they guide entrepreneurs in buying, growing, and selling businesses with integrity and strategy.
Under CEO Alexander Kunz, OP2 Labs has grown into a global nutritional supplement manufacturer known for innovation, resilience, and profitability. Despite challenges from the pandemic and inflation, the company achieved 130% revenue growth from 2022–23, with projections of another significant jump this year. “We are in growth mode,” says Kunz of investing more in customer acquisition and shoring up the company’s inventory position. Despite that, “we’ve been able to maintain a profitable, lean cost structure.”
Todd Lokash
Paragon Industries
Paragon Industries, L.P. is a Texasbased manufacturer of electric kilns and furnaces, serving the ceramics, glass, metal, and industrial heat-treat markets since 1948. Privately owned and operated, Paragon combines legacy craftsmanship with modern innovation to deliver reliable, American-made thermal processing equipment. Following a 2023 SBAbacked acquisition, the company is focused on growth through direct sales, streamlined operations, and new market development. With no outside investors, Paragon remains committed to building careers, supporting its core values, and exceeding customer expectations—all guided by the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to drive accountability, innovation, and long-term success.
Identical twins Rian and Rory launched Fort Worth-based CHC Development in 2011 after more than 16 years building expertise in engineering, brokerage, and real estate private equity. Since then, CHC has steadily grown its portfolio to nearly 1 million square feet of owned and managed commercial space, providing strong, stable cash flow and steady income for its team. Specializing in medical office, retail, mixed-use, industrial, and residential projects across Texas, CHC continues shaping communities and weathering market cycles with resilience.
Founded in 2017 in Boyd by construction partners James Millett and Kyle Erwin, Aspen Site Rentals began with 250 portable restrooms and one truck — born from frustration with unreliable vendors. Their hands-on approach and “fix-it-fast” standard soon expanded from railroads to weddings and events. Today, Aspen serves Greater North Texas with 2,500 portable restrooms, 14 luxury trailers, fencing, lighting, and dumpsters. A loyal team, smart operations, and steady growth continue to drive Aspen’s reputation for reliability and service excellence.
Founded in 2014 by newlyweds Ashley and Winter, WinterGreen began with a door-to-door hustle and a shared vision to build something lasting. What started with Winter installing artificial turf himself has grown into a thriving company with nearly 50 employees serving residential and commercial clients. Known for quality, integrity, and in-house expertise, WinterGreen continues to expand into turf maintenance, material sales, and luxury putting greens.
Founded in 2018 by Tommy Nelson, a TCU graduate and licensed pilot, Trilogy Aviation Group is an on-demand private jet charter company based in Fort Worth. With a global network of aircraft and rigorous safety standards, Trilogy delivers best-in-class service and personalized travel experiences. Guided by Nelson’s hands-on leadership and “work hard, play hard” philosophy, the company has demonstrated strong and steadily improving sales and profit growth by focusing on high-demand private charter services and expanding its global client base.
Founded in 2023 by architect and developer Andrew Oxley, Oxley Architects and Development Partners’ projects range from adaptive reuse to ground-up development, with a focus on areas that have previously been “underutilized pockets” to stimulate growth and renewal. “We believe in Fort Worth's future and have invested in it,” he says. Oxley’s disciplined, hands-on financial management and lean operations ensure consistent profitability, competitive fees, and strong investment in staff, clients, and communities.
Jeff Postell is the founder of Post L Group, a Fort Worth-based construction management firm serving North Texas clients across K-12, aviation, health care, higher education, municipal, and commercial sectors. Anticipating $75 million in revenue and employing 150 people, Post L Group recently spun off its drywall division into Post L Drywall, LLC. Through his nonprofit, Building Pathways, Postell creates apprenticeship opportunities that train and launch skilled trade careers, truly “building communities for people, and people for community.”
Brian Rodgers
Aeko Technologies
After a 20-year corporate IT career, Brian Rodgers took a leap of faith and founded Aeko Technologies in 2016 to deliver enterprise-grade IT support and cybersecurity to small and midsized businesses. He rebuilt a struggling acquisition into a high-performing firm with a 4.96/5 client satisfaction rating and a people-first culture. Guided by integrity and operational discipline, Rodgers has grown Aeko into a financially sound, client-focused company positioned for long-term success.
Kari Seher and Mark Seher
MELT Ice Creams
MELT Ice Creams. Yes, please. Kari Crowe Seher founded MELT Ice Creams in 2014 with a joyful mission: to give people the best five minutes of their day. Joined by her husband, Mark, in 2016, the duo has grown MELT into a beloved Fort Worth brand known for its small-batch, scratch-made ice cream and community spirit. With no outside investors, they’ve built five profitable locations, expanded catering operations, and cultivated a happy, people-first culture rooted in purpose and deliciousness.
Brian Sneed
Quince Collection Restaurants
Before hospitality, Brian Sneed worked as a hedge fund manager. In that job, he jokingly called himself the Chief Entertainment Officer as he entertained clients in some of “the most extraordinary places in the world.” Never once, however, did he find a fine-dining restaurant that didn’t fall short in some area. That was the inspiration for Quince, which began as a passion project in San Miguel de Allende and has expanded to Austin and Fort Worth, all of them sharing an “ethos of excellence.”
Jeffrey Yarbrough
bigInk Commercial Real Estate / Concept N2 Inc.
Jeffrey Yarbrough’s career as an entrepreneur and marketing leader in Texas spans four decades. Since relocating to Fort Worth in 2021, he has established multiple enterprises under one roof. One of those is a boutique real estate and business brokerage firm known as bigInk Commercial Real Estate. In addition, he owns and manages several restaurants, including The Hub Sports Bar, Ron's Place, and The Hamburger Man Fort Worth and Dallas. After selling Teddy Wongs, he is developing two new concepts for Fort Worth.
Up-and-Coming:
Bryce Calvillo
SciFit Center
Founded by Dr. Bryce Calvillo, SciFit Center helps clients transform their health through personalized nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle consulting. The company became profitable within three months — far ahead of industry norms — and quadrupled its revenue by year three. Persevering through the pandemic, SciFit has achieved roughly 150% annual growth every year since. With a tight-knit, long-tenured team and low overhead, SciFit thrives on efficiency, client trust, and community connection, proving that smart habits drive lasting wellness and business success.
Up-and-Coming:
Chelsie Synatschk
Fort Worth Focused Real Estate
Chelsie Synatschk got into real estate motivated by the flexibility it provided to raise two young sons. Over the past four years, Fort Worth Focused Real Estate has grown from a husband-andwife team into a boutique brokerage of 16 mission-driven agents. The firm has experienced strong year-over-year sales and consistent profitability and financial stability. That healthy foundation “enables us to offer our agents meaningful support and tools” to provide clients a high level of service.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY
The Fort Worth chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization views its being awarded Fort Worth Inc.’s Supporter of Entrepreneurship as an opportunity — naturally.
“Exposure for the chapter is fantastic and just it helps us connect with more entrepreneurs and frankly helps our visibility in community,” says Cliff Price, president of the chapter.
Ultimately, that means nurturing more startups and fortifying the foundation that supports Fort Worth’s entrepreneurs.
Each year, Fort Worth Inc. presents a person or organization the award for advocating for and assisting the startup community. EO fosters growth of entrepreneurs by helping them achieve success in their business and personal lives through peer-to-peer learning, connections to experts, and “once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”
“I’ve been there — the late nights, the doubts, the grind,” says Craig Wasilchak, a member of EO Fort Worth and small-business owner. “But being part of EO has been a game-changer. It’s not just about networking. It’s about real growth, learning, and thriving alongside like-minded entrepreneurs.
“Through workshops, inspiring events, and a global network of peers,
EO helps us push boundaries, innovate, and elevate our businesses.”
EO has been at the front supporting and connecting business owners worldwide for more than three decades. With roughly 20,000 members worldwide, it can credibly call itself the world’s most influential entrepreneurial community.
Says Price, who is in the wholesale business: “It's a very giving group in the fact that they're more than willing to help another business owner have success. I think that's one of the things I found about the group was really pretty amazing.”
Jeremy Brandt, the founder of the Fort Worth chapter in 2012, accepted the award on behalf of the local community.
Brandt, founder of We Buy Houses, says he saw at the time in Fort Worth “the region’s most dynamic entrepreneurs.”
In order to move from a startup chapter to an official EO chapter, the group was required to recruit and maintain a membership of at least 25 within 12 months. EO Fort Worth exceeded that number within four months.
In addition to Brandt, the founding board included Doug Tonne, Mitchell Allen, Jason Pettigrew, Tony Pompa, Holly Shields, Hillary Strasner, John Cornelsen, Gary Walker, and Michael Windhorst.
“I think EO is the best-kept secret for business owners in Fort Worth,” says Price, who described the city as a great environment of ambitious and driven people. “It's a great community of people who share and work together and really are focused on helping each other be successful.”
SciFit Center takes a modern, realistic approach to weight loss—focusing on progress, not restriction. Their all-encompassing program blends nutrition, fitness, and wellness guidance to create personalized plans that fit real life. Each client receives weekly one-on-one coaching for nutrition planning, accountability, and progress tracking. “We help clients transition into a new normal that allows flexibility, fun foods, and cocktails while still managing their weight,” says Dr. Bryce Cavillo.
Using advanced Fit3D and SECA body scanning, SciFit tracks measurable changes in body composition to ensure healthy, lasting results. Optional enhancements like Food Sensitivity Testing and medically supervised Semaglutide or Tirzepatide injections further support appetite control and metabolic balance.
With a team of highly qualified professionals and a sustainable, year-round approach, SciFit Center helps clients achieve lasting results—no crash diets required.
For some Fort Worth enterprises, the boardroom looks a lot like the breakfast table.
The family-run business is as American as apple pie and elbow grease. Only louder at Thanksgiving.
Analysts say that the staying power of a successful family business is in a thoughtful succession plan. It’s a roadmap for the next generation. It helps future leaders understand what’s expected of them, from formal education and training to the shared principles that shape the company’s identity.
These family-run outfits have all had that. And over the years, they’ve seen it all — changing markets, changing generations, and the occasional family feud over who gets the last word.
What keeps them thriving is a plan and a mix of tradition, tenacity, and Texas-sized loyalty.
Adaptability is Deen Meat & Cooked Foods’ secret sauce through 80 years.
When George Deen returned from service abroad in World War II, his father, sales manager at the famed Armour and Co. in the Stockyards, invited his son to come work there.
However, Edgar Deen — soon to be a three-term Fort Worth mayor — encouraged George to start his own business, believing the economy was about to shoot into the sky like the very best put-together bottle rocket.
Edgar Deen was right.
“That's how my dad got into the meat business,” says Craig Deen, son of George and current president of Deen Meat & Cooked Foods. “He grew up with Edgar at Armour. When he came back from the war, he started buying sides of beef from his dad at Armour and selling them to the mom-and-pop grocery stores around town.”
George’s grandson, Matthew Deen, serves as COO. Matthew Deen’s father, Danny Deen, retired from a long career there in 2020, deciding that was a better option than dealing with all the headaches — literally and figuratively — of the pandemic.
Danny Deen had just handed off the chores of president to his brother.
“And then when COVID hit, he was like, ‘You boys have fun,’” says Matthew Deen laughing. “‘I think I'm just going to be retired.’”
In 2026, Deen Meat & Cooked Foods will celebrate its 80th birthday. When I asked the key to the company’s endurance, Craig says with no reservation: “Flexibility. Being willing to change as the times change.”
One of those changes was getting into cooked foods.
“In the ’80s, they got into marinaded items, like fajitas,”
Matthew Deen says. “My dad tells the story of George saying, ‘What's a fajita?’ In mid-1996 or so, we bought a chili company and got into cooked foods. That's the biggest change and biggest reason we're still here.”
Deen’s clients for cooked foods are a who’s who of retail, including Taco Cabana.
The company has flourished since society reopened after 2020. The tight labor market has meant not enough workers to man kitchen stations.
Those companies have turned to Deen.
From Guanajuato to Fort Worth, Daniel Hernandez carries on a legacy shaped by art, advocacy, and the pursuit of opportunity.
The Hernandez Law Center’s roots are in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Daniel Hernandez’s mother, Mary, traveled to San Miguel de Allende to study art.
She did that — very well, by all appearances — and fell in love with Francisco Hernandez, an attorney who studied law at the University of Guanajuato. He became licensed in 1969. His childhood friends nicknamed him “Perico,” the parrot — a talker, a debater, a licenciado
The couple moved their family to Fort Worth in the late 1970s. His father sacrificed his career in law to give their children better opportunities in the U.S. Francisco and Mary both eventually became notaries public. Francisco did many other things while trying to learn English.
“They just basically helped people become citizens and resi-
dents in the United States from our house,” Daniel Hernandez says. “So, here I am, little kid … 10 or 11, and we basically got a line around the corner, people sitting on our porch, people sitting in our living room on Saturday mornings even. And I'm sitting there like a doofus watching cartoons with all these people lining up to see my dad.”
Two sons became lawyers. Hernandez’s older brother, Francisco Hernandez Jr., is also an attorney. The brothers practiced together for years.
When Francisco Jr. retired this year, Daniel Hernandez rebranded the firm Hernandez Law Center.
The rebrand introduced a new brand identity, a bilingual website, and a renewed outlook on legal practice. The firm has expertise in family law, criminal law, and immigration.
Daniel Hernandez previously practiced alongside his father and brother, building a trusted reputation among Fort Worth’s Hispanic community. Following his father’s passing and his brother’s retirement, Hernandez is now carrying forward the family’s work that began in the 1980s.
Hernandez has an undergraduate degree from TCU. He studied law at Texas Wesleyan, now Texas A&M School of Law.
While in law school, he was an interpreter in the courts.
“Basically, stealing my dad's work is what I was doing,” Hernandez says. “And so, I became an interpreter [in the office] and in the federal courts, got my law license, kept working with my brother.
His mother’s art dots the walls of the office, making this still very much a Hernandez family enterprise.
Stroud Auto Supply boasts an extended family business.
Dan Stroud recalls with some obvious pride the day two fellas from a big-box retailer walked into his store some years ago. It was obvious who they were. Both were in the uniform of their employer.
“I said, ‘What can I help you with?’” Stroud says. “He goes, ‘Well nothing. We're just going to see how we're going to run you out of business.’”
Nobody likes a bully. Stroud told them to leave.
“Now they have an account,” he says, laughing.
Stroud Auto Supply — the moment you cross the threshold the glorious industrial musk hovers like cigarette smoke at an old bar or Mrs. Baird’s yeast rising on I-30 — is still standing on Sylvania, 62 years after Stroud’s father, E.R. “Blackie” Stroud opened the business in 1963. Stroud Auto Supply is very likely the last remaining independent auto parts store in Fort Worth.
“I started working here when I was 8,” Stroud says. “Reading catalogs. Like some of these catalogs I have hanging up here.”
Blackie Stroud’s decision to start the business, Dan Stroud says, was based on necessity. Blackie had been laid off at a container corporation. He had a friend with an auto parts store, Riley Auto Supply. Through the generosity of an auto parts warehouse, Duncan and Co., Blackie opened up his own store under the banner of a second Riley Auto Supply.
That evolved into Stroud Auto Supply.
Dan Stroud and his brother, Randy, took ownership of the store upon Blackie’s death in 1995. Randy Stroud died suddenly in 2014.
This place is all family.
Alex Espino is the manager of the store. His son, Alex Jr., also works there. They call him “Junior.” “It’s just easier that way,” says Stroud.
You can see a day when Espino and Junior are in control here. Charlie Garcia, Billy Cockrell, and Victor Sellers work in the shop, too. All of these guys are family, with an air of mischief and fun ever present among them.
“It's family,” says Jamie Stroud, Dan’s wife, a retired school counselor who has stopped by on this day. “It's completely family.”
I want to thank our original guests in San Miguel, Fort Worth and Austin thereafter for their patience and support as we developed each Quince into what it is today. Equally as important, I want to recognize Quince’s key staff and partners, whose dedication and creativity have helped bring this concept to life and guide its continued growth.
We are deeply grateful to Fort Worth, Inc. for nominating us as a recipient of the Entrepreneur of Excellence Award.
At Quince, “There’s Aways Something to Celebrate!” – and we are thankful that our team’s hard work and passion are being recognized.
– Brian Sneed –
quince.fw | quincesma.com/fw
Greater Fort Worth’s family-owned businesses are the pillars of the local economy, contributing to the city’s identity and prosperity. Employing and serving the community, these businesses play a critical role in the city’s growth. Beyond their economic impact, these families embody the values of hard work and community involvement. The following pages showcase some of the small businesses that have made Fort Worth much more than just a place to call home. The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Inc.
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Recognized as one of the largest natural stone and landscape supply yards in North Texas. Praised by customers for extensive selection, knowledgeable staff, and exceptional service. FOUNDING: Whiz-Q Stone was founded in 1983 by Jim Whisenand. Originally focused on quarrying West Texas sandstone, the company later transitioned to retail and wholesale stone supply in Fort Worth. MOTTO: “Build the Lifestyle of Your Dreams.” MISSION: To supply homeowners, contractors, and designers with highquality natural stone and landscape materials, paired with expert guidance and exceptional service, helping create beautiful outdoor living spaces. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: As a longstanding family business, Whiz-Q Stone supports the local community through educational landscaping workshops, employee volunteerism, and by serving as a trusted resource for outdoor living education and training. GOALS: Whiz-Q Stone aims to continue expanding its product offerings and services while maintaining its commitment to family values, quality, and exceptional customer experience. The company is focused on sustainability and ensuring its legacy continues for future generations. PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Whiz-Q Stone provides natural stone, hardscape materials, pavers, gravels, soils, mulches, and outdoor living supplies. Services include expert project guidance, delivery, and support for both homeowners and professionals. MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES: Local businesses face challenges from supplychain fluctuations, increased competition from national retailers, and maintaining knowledgeable staff while preserving personalized customer service. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Whiz-Q Stone’s difference lies in its 40 plus years of family owned dedication, expansive 22 acre stone yard, and expert team known as the “Rock Nerds.” The company offers unmatched selection, expertise, and personal service that larger chains cannot replicate. Whiz-Q Stone
4501 E Loop 820 S., Fort Worth 76119 | 817.429.0822 | whiz-q.com
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 2025 Arlington Business of the Year; 2025 Face of Staffing & Recruiting, Fort Worth Inc.; American Staffing Association Genius Award Winner; Glassdoor, Best Place to Work; Forbes, America’s Best Staffing Firms 2025; 2025 DFW Favorites winner, Star Telegram; 2025 Quality Business Award winner. FOUNDING: Burnett’s Staffing was founded in 1966 by Paul W. & Joyce Burnett. MOTTO: “Making a difference in the life of another since 1966.” COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Gladney Center for Adoption, JDRF, FRAXA, the Gatehouse, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Glioblastoma Research, Down Syndrome Research Foundation, Journey of Hope Grief Support Center, Chisholm Trail 100 Club, ACH Child and Family Services, CK Family Services, and more. FUTURE GOALS: Our goal is to stay true to what has always set us apart for the last 60 years — matching quality talent with quality organizations across the DallasFort Worth area. MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES
TODAY: One of the biggest challenge local businesses face is finding quality talent. There is a growing mismatch between the skills employers expect and those available in the workforce. WHAT SETS THEM APART: What sets our business apart isn’t just what we do — it’s how we do it. We prioritize relationship-focused practices that create lasting value for our clients, partners, and team. PICTURED: Brayden Burnett, President and Paul D. Burnett, CEO.
Burnett’s Staffing
2710 Avenue E East | Arlington 76011 | 817.640.5255 | burnetts.com
FOUNDING: Dennis and Cecily Curnyn founded the practice in 1991, originally named Sportcare Physical Therapy. Both came out of a corporate physical therapy environment and saw how a family-run practice could do it better. Now known as Curnyn Physical Therapy, and with their son Nolan as COO, it is the longest-run family-owned clinic in Fort Worth. SERVICES: Many specialized techniques to help with all types of musculoskeletal aches and pains including dry needling, hands-on manual techniques (a Curnyn Physical Therapy clinic specialty), blood flow restriction (BFR), decompressive traction for spine, and more. MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE: Most people do not know that physical therapists are the experts in musculoskeletal issues with more than seven years of schooling before they ever start their career as well as how many different musculoskeletal issues we can help, cure, or solve. WHAT SETS THEM
APART: Patient centric from start to finish. We put patients first — every detail of their experience matters. Our physical therapists spend meaningful time with everyone, building strong relationships that lead to better outcomes. By truly listening, we ensure every need is heard and addressed. We hire only the best PTs through a highly selective process, creating a fun, compassionate, and energetic environment that makes therapy something our patients look forward to.
PICTURED: Dennis, Cecily and Nolan.
Curnyn Physical Therapy
4750 Bryant Irvin Road N., Fort Worth 76107 | 817.923.9000 |curnynphysicaltherapy.com
MISSION: Our mission is to build a legacy defined by authenticity, curating pieces that tell stories meant to be cherished for generations. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Mark Suleiman – JBT award. BUSINESS
FOUNDING: Founded by brothers Kenny and Mark Suleiman in 1997. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: As a family-owned business, community matters deeply to us. We were honored to donate proceeds from our grand opening to the Kerr County Flood Relief, supporting local recovery and renewal efforts. GOALS: Looking ahead, our goal is to build a household name rooted in family values and integrity. PRODUCTS/SERVICES:
Diva Diamonds offers a refined selection of luxury items, including fine jewelry, timepieces, and designer handbags. MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES: A significant challenge for local businesses is maintaining individuality and personal connection in a marketplace increasingly influenced by large corporations and mass production. WHAT SETS THEM APART: What sets Diva Diamonds apart is our commitment to family values, in-house craftsmanship, and exclusive creations that can’t be found anywhere else.
Diva Diamonds & Jewels
6102 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth 76116 | 682.380.9344 | divadiamondsjewelry.com
HONORS: Glendarroch Homes is in its 20th year of serving Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. MISSION: We offer quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service on every project. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: As passionate alumni of TCU, we are longtime supporters of TCU athletics. We are involved in the local church, support Reformed University Fellowship, sponsor the St. Jude charity event, and serve as advocates for Dash Network. GOALS: We aim to demonstrate our love for the city of Fort Worth by delivering a great experience and a quality product. PRODUCTS/SERVICES: It is our privilege to turn dreams into reality, as we build fully custom homes and remodels/ additions. MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES: With higher interest rates, most of our clients are looking to remodel or add on to their homes to avoid trading out of a sub 4% mortgage. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We genuinely value the relationships we build with our clients—relationships rooted in trust. Many of our clients have become close friends, and we’re proud to be starting a fourth project for one of them. Our goal is to build a beautiful home, deliver an exceptional experience, and continue earning the trust of those we serve. PICTURED: Tom and Tim Bates.
Glendarroch Homes
1227 W. Magnolia Ave. | Fort Worth 76104 | 817.560.1600 | glendarrochhomes.com
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Recognized as a top small business in Tarrant County by the Better Business Bureau. FOUNDED: 1896 by Harry Keeton, Sr. MOTTO: Quality Bedding at Dream Prices. A Texas Original since 1896. CHARITIES SUPPORTED: Young Life Ministries, Jewel Charity, and Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County. ASPIRATIONS: The goal that my children and grandchildren would continue the tradition of serving the bedding needs that my greatgrandfather started. PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Custom-built mattresses, box springs, odd-sized mattresses, bed frames, comforters, and pillows. CHALLENGE BUSINESS FACES: Letting people know that we are here for their bedding needs. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Better quality and construction, as well as know-how since 1896, set us apart from our competition. Our buying power, prices, custom sizes, no sales commissions, along with the “no middleman” concept give maximum savings, which are passed along to the customer. PICTURED: Trey Duncan and Peter Duncan. Harry Keeton & family, circa 1940s. The Original Mattress Factory | 900 E. Vickery Blvd. | Fort Worth 76104 817.334.0361 | peter@themattressfactory.com | themattressfactory.com
RECOGNITIONS: The restaurant has been noted in local media for its elevated sports-bar concept and positive reception. Rex Benson was a finalist for the Entrepreneur of Excellence awards by Fort Worth Inc., 2022. FOUNDING: Co-founded by Benson and Danny & Tracy Hodjea, Rex’s Bar & Grill opened on Jan. 14, 2025. The broader family business (the predecessor breakfast restaurant) was founded in 1962 by Benson’s father, David Benson, along with his sister Bette. MISSION: At Rex’s Bar & Grill, we celebrate food, community, and great times. Every guest is treated like family with genuine warmth and respect. Our mission is to create a community where guests and team members feel valued and appreciated. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Community is at our core. We actively support our Fort Worth neighborhood, building connections beyond our doors. PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Chef-inspired American comfort food including burgers, steaks, tomahawk pork chops, short ribs, salmon, etc. Large indoor space and outdoor patio with live music stage and big-screen TVs for gamewatching. CHALLENGES FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES: Competing for attention in a market where dining out, entertainment, and sports venues all compete for the same customer dollars. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Known for its delicious food, outstanding entertainment, and top-notch service, Rex’s Bar & Grill truly stands out from the rest.
Rex’s Bar & Grill
501 S. University Drive, Fort Worth 76107 | 817.968.7397 | rexsftw.com
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Southwest & National; Fort Worth Business Press Top 100, Great Women of Texas; DCEO Dallas 500 CEOs; AA+ BRC Certification; Fort Worth Chamber, 2024 Vandergriff Award; Dallas Morning News, DFW Top Workplaces; Fort Worth Inc., Entrepreneur of Excellence (finalist). BUSINESS FOUNDING: Established in 1935 by Ben H. Rosenthal, Standard Meat Company is now in its fourth generation of family ownership, continuing its long tradition of innovating in the service of excellence.
PROFESSIONAL MISSION: To inspire connections and breakthroughs that ultimately feed our life. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: We’ve supported the Fort Worth chapter of Susan G. Komen since its inception and regularly partner with food-focused nonprofits like Tarrant Area Food Bank. GOALS: Longevity. We aim to keep growing through innovation and thoughtful service. PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Customized protein solutions, including portioning, packaging, cooking, and culinary innovation. MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES TODAY: Staying ahead of rapidly changing technology. We invest time and talent to stay future-ready. WHAT SETS US APART: Our culture. We may be in the protein business, but we’re ultimately in the relationship business. Our deep, trusted connections power everything we do at Standard Meat. PICTURED: Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld and Ben Rosenthal. Standard Meat Company
600 E. Exchange Ave., Ste. 200 | Fort Worth 76164 | standardmeat.com
Formation Real Estate is a full-service brokerage and property management firm built on lasting relationships. Headquartered in Fort Worth with projects across the U.S., we combine strategy, experience, and followthrough to help clients buy, sell, lease, and manage with confidence. Our work doesn’t end when the deal closesthat’s where it proves itself.
Formation Real Estate is a full-service brokerage and property management firm built on lasting relationships. Headquartered in Fort Worth with projects across the U.S., we combine strategy, experience, and followthrough to help clients buy, sell, lease, and manage with confidence. Our work doesn’t end when the deal closesthat’s where it proves itself.
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IWORDS BY CHRISTOPHER FLANAGAN
n many ways, starting a business and providing for your family are part of the American dream. Entrepreneurs forge their paths forward, starting small then building. Sometimes, the business begins to feel like part of the family. However, as time passes and the business grows, selling the company may be appealing. This article discusses what to explore when considering a sale.
Father Time is undefeated; unfortunately, you won’t be able to run your company forever. If you hope to keep the business in the family, you should carefully consider whether any family member(s) would be successful in leading the company to continued profitability. If nobody comes to mind, it may be time to sell to an outsider. With smaller businesses, locating a buyer can be difficult. Locating a buyer can be done via word of mouth or by hiring a business broker. The broker can help market your business, connecting you with potential buyers.
Just like preparing a house for showings, you should organize your business to be sold. Take steps to ensure that the business is an attractive asset for potential buyers. Making sure your books and records are in order is the best way to do so.
Many family business records are not likely to have been maintained to high standards, making it difficult for a potential buyer to evaluate the business
as an investment. Together with a CPA, you should audit financial statements, taking care of any red flags along the way. Another way to “tidy up” is to ensure the company is current with its tax filings. Check both federal and state tax requirements because they can vary between the type of entity used and the state where the business is located.
There are many reasons to sell the business. If you look at the business as an investment, then you may want to sell it after generating your desired return. Maybe you are ready for retirement, and by cashing out, someone else handles the day-to-day work. In some cases, the buyer of the business will want you and the current management to remain working for a specified time to help with the transition. Other times, the buyer may want you to simply leave to create a new brand for its services and/or products. Many family business owners have an affinity for their employees. Will the new buyer retain or replace them? In each scenario, you should be conscientious about your goals and ensure that the language of the agreement reflects your desires.
Selling a business will likely generate a taxable gain. The IRS keeps tabs on these transactions, so it is important to keep your books in order and pay the right amount in taxes. Avoid any problems with the IRS and know exactly what goes into your pocket.
These are just a few of the issues
you should consider when selling your family business. Each business is unique, and each sale can come with its own wrinkles. Speaking with a professional can help ease the process and achieve your goals.
Christopher Flanagan is an associate attorney at Decker Jones P.C., where he focuses his practice on helping clients with business transactions, considering legal and tax issues along the way.
WORDS BY VIANEI BRAUN
Let’s say you own a small business and things are going well. Your employees are happy since they are receiving plenty of overtime, as well as bonuses for safety compliance and increased production.
This is either a good scenario or a legally risky scenario. The difference depends on a technicality under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
First, a bit of background. The FLSA is the law containing minimum wage and overtime pay obligations. There are exemptions for certain types of employees, such as professional, executive, administrative, and outside sales employees.
Teachers, for example, are classified as exempt-level professional employees, and thus can be paid a salary with no overtime.
In our small business example, let’s
presume most of the employees are hourly production workers. This means they are nonexempt and must be paid overtime.
The FLSA requires that nonexempt employees be paid overtime for all hours worked over 40 in a work week. Most people are familiar with this concept and know that overtime hours are paid at time and a half.
This begs the question: time and a half of what?
Here is the technicality. Overtime pay is time and a half of “the regular rate,” and “the regular rate” does not strictly mean the employee’s standard hourly rate.
Under the FLSA, the regular rate generally includes “all remuneration for employment.” Bonuses (with limited exceptions) are included in the regular rate calculation, and as a result, bonuses will increase the overtime pay rate. Unfortunately, not all payroll systems are set up to catch this discrepancy.
In our small business example, if the payroll system does not recognize that safety and production bonuses make the regular rate go up, then overtime hours will be calculated at the wrong rate and will be underpaid. If employees are working a lot of overtime, the underpayment (and associated liability risk) can be surprisingly large.
Unfortunately, where payroll systems are lacking, plaintiff’s law firms are vigilant. There are a plethora of firms seeking to file lawsuits over technical FLSA violations.
So, what is a cautious employer to do? Here are some suggestions:
• Review the Bonus Technicality. If you pay bonuses (or shift differentials or other extra compensation), ensure compliance with applicable FLSA regulations. Bonuses that are promised based on specific criteria will almost certainly affect employees’ regular rate for overtime purposes.
• Ensure Holiday Bonuses Meet the Criteria. There is a regulation (29 CFR §778.212) for “gifts, Christmas and special occasion bonuses.” These do NOT affect the regular
rate calculation so long as they are truly gifts and are not tied to hours worked, production, or efficiency. So go ahead and be generous at year end.
• Consider a Percentage-Based Bonus. There are regulations (29 CFR §778.210 and §778.503) acknowledging that if a bonus is paid as a percentage of total wages, overtime has been properly paid as an arithmetic fact.
• Review Overall FLSA Compliance. There are many other technicalities that can lead to FLSA lawsuits.
These include misclassification of employees as exempt and timekeeping violations involving meal periods, accuracy of time records, and working “off the clock.” Ensure human resource personnel are monitoring these issues, and when in doubt, consult legal counsel.
Braun is a shareholder at
She represents employers in a wide variety of industries and provides litigation and administrative agency defense, compliance assistance, and practical advice.
WORDS BY JOHN LOYD
Retirement. The one word alone conjures up a lot of different feelings and emotions for people. For some, it signifies fear. Fear of not having enough money, fear of running out of money, or just fear of the unknown. For others, the word “retirement” signifies a pleasant new chapter in life, one with far more freedom.
When a client is planning to retire, I often ask, “It’s Monday morning after you retire, what are you going to do?” The knee-jerk answer is almost always the same one-word enthusiastic response, “Nothing!” I then repeat the question, “I’m serious. Let’s say you retire on Friday, Monday morning rolls around, what are you going to do?” It’s at this point that one can often see the gears spinning in the person’s mind, as they candidly have not given much thought to what they are going to do once retired. Cue the old adage of “If you fail to plan, plan to fail.” Without a plan during retirement,
time can click on, and one can find themself looking up a few years from that coveted retirement date with a sense of uneasiness. One realizes that retirement is NOT the commercials or images that the media portrays. It’s not all sipping coffee from the cruise ship balcony, spending weekends at a vineyard in Napa, or playing golf overlooking a gorgeous blue sea. There are still the dayto-day issues of life to deal with. Health issues, the AC unit going out, getting the oil changed, issues with grown children, and the overall worries of the world that the media constantly reminds us about.
The issue is, even with plenty of money, some people are going to fail at retirement. How is that possible? How could one “fail” at having to do, well, nothing? What some retirees fail to realize is that “work” provides a benefit of more than just a paycheck. While it may be subtle, work provides:
• Mental and physical stimulation (even if not doing manual labor, one is still walking into and around the office)
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• A sense of purpose
• Social connections
My thoughts here are not to undermine for one second the glory and enjoyment that retirement can bring, nor to imply retirees are all just sitting around bored and watching TV all day and doing nothing with their lives. My point is more that if you want the best that retirement has to offer, in that phase of your life, it’s important to figure out ways to fill the gaps that a work environment formerly provided. Shakespeare said, “Leisure is a beautiful garment for a day, but a horrible choice for permanent attire.”
• Pension-like income – Who are the happiest retirees? Those who have pensions and are not constantly worried every second of every day about what the stock market is doing to their retirement portfolio. The issue is that pensions are very rare these days, but there are financial products out there that can provide pension-like income, meaning a stream of income that one cannot outlive.
• Part-time something – Whether volunteer work or getting paid, the goal is to keep the mind and body active while having social connections.
• Be deliberate about time with friends and family – Think, “What gets scheduled gets done” and hence, “What doesn’t get scheduled doesn’t get done.” Schedule a monthly coffee or breakfast with colleagues from work (or other retirees from where you worked), commit to attend the family reunion (or host one yourself) and various family events throughout the year, or host a yearly event at your house (Christmas party, etc.).
• Start doing things you want to do in retirement BEFORE you retire! – Want to learn to play the guitar/piano/speak a foreign language? Start taking classes before retirement, as it’s far easier to continue on a path than to start. Want to work part-time somewhere? Go speak to the manager where you might want to work and try to get something planned ahead for when you might start. We are
creatures of habit, and how your first month of retirement goes, there goes the rest. What often happens is a person has a perhaps legitimate desire to “do nothing” but then flips on the TV, and before you know it, has spent three or four hours watching TV that day. Next day, well, same thing. The person looks up five years from now and wonders, “Where did all the time go?” and has barely pursued any of the “things they were going to do” or “bucket list items” upon retirement with all the “free time” they were going to have.
• Have a plan – How do you envision your life in your 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s? What is it that you are retiring from? What is it that you desire to retire to? It’s the Monday after you retire, what are you going to do? What does the day look like? How will you know if you “succeeded” in retirement? How will you know if you failed?
The bottom line? Retirement is what you make it. Money helps, but purpose sustains. Before you hang up your work hat, take time to think about what’s next. What will get you out of bed on Monday morning, and what will make the days meaningful? With the right planning, both financially and personally, you can strive to make sure your retirement years are some of your best yet.
John Loyd, CFP®, MBA, EA is founder of The Wealth Planner™. For over two decades, he has been providing wealth management advice to small-business owners and highincome professionals. Contact him at john@thewealthplanner.com. Securities &AdvisoryServicesofferedthroughLPL Financial,aRegisteredInvestmentAdvisor. MemberFINRA/SIPC.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) – Fort Worth
Global peer network of founders leading high-growth businesses.
Membership Costs: ~$1,500 initiation + ~$2,842 annual dues.
Criteria/Eligibility: Must be founder/ co-founder or controlling shareholder of a business with more than $1 million in annual revenue.
Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) –DFW Chapter
Exclusive network of CEOs under ~45 years old for global peer exchange.
Membership Costs: ~$4,000–$5,000 annual + initiation fees.
Criteria/Eligibility: Must be the top executive of a company with >$12 million in revenue (or equivalent employee threshold).
Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) DFW Young Professionals
Growth-oriented professionals and entrepreneurs in finance and M&A.
Membership Costs: $425/year for YP members (≤ age 35).
Criteria/Eligibility: Professionals in growth capital, corporate finance, or related fields.
TechFW
Nonprofit incubator helping technology startups scale.
Membership Costs: Program-based fees ($200–$1,000 annual).
Criteria/Eligibility: Early-stage tech entrepreneurs accepted via application. Cowtown Angels
Angel investment group connected to TechFW for early-stage funding.
Membership Costs: Investor members pay annual dues (~$2,000).
Criteria/Eligibility: Accredited investors only (SEC standards).
The DEC Network (Dallas Entrepreneur Center)
Resource hub and coworking + mentorship network for DFW startups.
Membership Costs: Free events + optional paid programs (varies $0–$200).
Criteria/Eligibility: Open to entrepreneurs and small-business founders.
Founders Network – DFW Chapter Global network of tech startup founders for peer advisory support.
Membership Costs: ~$800 annual dues.
Criteria/Eligibility: Must be founder of
a venture-backed or growth-stage tech company.
Startup Grind DFW
Local chapter of global entrepreneurship community hosting events and firesides.
Membership Costs: Free membership/ ticketed events ($10–$20).
Criteria/Eligibility: Open to entrepreneurs, founders, investors.
Tiger 21 — Fort Worth
A global peer-membership organization for ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs, investors, and executives.
Membership Costs: $5,000 initiation fee; annual dues $33,000.
Criteria/Eligibility: Qualifying for membership requires being a wealth creator, with a minimum net worth of $20 million.
Vistage DFW
CEO peer advisory and executive coaching network.
Membership Costs: $18,000–$20,000 annually (approx.).
Criteria/Eligibility: Business owners/CEOs of mid-market companies.
TiE Dallas (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Nonprofit network for entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors.
Membership Costs: Charter members ~$1,000/year; regular ~$200.
Criteria/Eligibility: Entrepreneurs and business professionals of any background.
Texas Young Professionals (TYP) – Fort Worth
Statewide network connecting young pros via social and career events.
Membership Costs: Free to join/pay-perevent ($10–$25).
Criteria/Eligibility: Ages 21–40.
Junior Achievement Young Executive Society (YES!) – Fort Worth Volunteer and networking arm of Junior Achievement Chisholm Trail.
Membership Costs: $25 annual dues.
Criteria/Eligibility: Open to professionals interested in mentoring youth and business education.
DFW Urban League Young Professionals (ULYP)
Professional and community leadership network with diversity focus.
Membership Costs: $75 annual/$250 “Friend of YP.”
Criteria/Eligibility: Ages 21–40; committed to civic service and leadership.
United Way Tarrant County – Emerging Leaders
Young professionals driving community impact and philanthropy.
Membership Costs: $250 annual donation suggested.
Criteria/Eligibility: Ages 20s–40s; community-minded leaders.
Rotaract Club of Fort Worth
Rotary-sponsored network for young leaders focused on service projects.
Membership Costs: ~$100 annual.
Criteria/Eligibility: Ages 18–35.
Young Professionals of Fort Worth (YPOFW)
Local network for career growth and leadership within Tarrant County.
Membership Costs: ~$125 annual dues.
Criteria/Eligibility: Ages 21–40; based in Fort Worth area.
Leadership Fort Worth
Structured leadership development program for emerging professionals.
Membership Costs: ~$2,750-$4,500 tuition fee.
Criteria/Eligibility: Application process for mid-career professionals (<40).
Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth Young Professionals Group
Local network for young real estate professionals.
Membership Costs: $200 annual dues.
Criteria/Eligibility: Membership is restricted to professionals under the age of 35.
Urban Land Institute (ULI) DFW Young Leaders Group
Real estate and urban-planning professionals.
Membership Costs: $250 approx. annual ULI membership.
Criteria/Eligibility: Under 35 and working in land use or development.
American Marketing Association (AMA) DFW YP Group
Marketing and communications professionals’ network.
Membership Costs: $149 annual (AMA member rate).
Criteria/Eligibility: Open to marketing professionals at all levels.
Local manners say a Fort Worthian should never gloat, but we reckon there’s only one way to have the city at your fingertips.
AIA Fort Worth Emerging Professionals
Early-career architects and design professionals.
Membership Costs: ~$250 annual AIA dues (varies).
Criteria/Eligibility: Licensed architects or associates under 10 years.
Financial Executives International (DFW YP)
Finance and accounting executives under 35.
Membership Costs: ~$395 annual dues.
Criteria/Eligibility: Early-career finance leaders.
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas – Young Professionals
Lawyers and business pros supporting access to justice.
Membership Costs: ~$100 annual donation.
Criteria/Eligibility: Open to young professionals, especially legal community.
Women’s Business Council – Southwest (DFW)
Promotes women-owned business growth through certification and networking.
Membership Costs: $350 small business/$700 corporate annual.
Criteria/Eligibility: Women business owners and executives.
Latino Leaders Network – DFW
Leadership and networking group for Latino professionals and entrepreneurs.
Membership Costs: ~$150 annual.
Criteria/Eligibility: Open to professionals with interest in Latino business leadership.
Black Professionals of Dallas – BYP DFW
Business and social network for Black young professionals in DFW.
Membership Costs: Free membership/paid event tickets.
Criteria/Eligibility: Ages 21–40; open to professionals across industries.
National Black MBA Association – Dallas/ Fort Worth Chapter (NBMBAA DFW)
Advances underrepresented professionals by providing access to career development, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities.
Membership Costs: $15/year up to ~$200/ year.
Criteria/Eligibility: Does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
We’re not just the venue; we’re the caterer, bringing our signature flavors to your event, whether at our ranch or yours! Our team prepares every dish in-house with authentic Texas flavors and top-quality ingredients. Get our signature dishes with customized menus, professional staff, and drop-off, pick-up, or full-service catering options at your chosen location.
Under Chris Huckabee’s leadership, MOREGroup designed a new school in Uvalde grounded in empathy, healing, and hope.
WORDS BY JOHN HENRY
Chris Huckabee is the founder and executive officer of MOREGroup, a family of brands that touches all aspects of social infrastructure — from health care, education, and public architecture to the engineering systems that support them all.
MOREGroup was formed through the combination of Huckabee, Rachlin Partners, TSK, Innovative Engineering Group, and E4H Environments for Health Architecture.
“Our firm has a long-standing tradition of taking on pro bono projects — partnering with organizations that need our expertise and providing our services at no cost,” Huckabee says. “It’s woven into our history and values.”
Certainly, the most notable recently was the architectural work done pro bono for Legacy Elementary School, the building constructed to replace Robb Elementary in Uvalde, site of a tragic mass shooting in 2022.
Huckabee is a member of the Fort Worth Inc. The 500, the most influential citizens in Fort Worth.
“While the Uvalde project was rooted in that same commitment [to pro bono projects], it became the largest and most ambitious pro bono effort we’ve ever undertaken. Given the profound loss this community experienced, we felt a deep responsibility to use our skills to help create a place of healing, hope, and
renewed safety for Uvalde’s children.”
Huckabee earned a bachelor’s in architecture from Texas Tech in 1991. He was appointed to the Texas Tech System Board of Regents by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2015. He was named chairman in 2019. His term on the board expired in 2021.
He is a registered architect in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Georgia. Huckabee also holds National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Certification.
Legacy Elementary School opened in October.
Huckabee and his team knew the design for Uvalde’s new school could not follow the usual playbook. Instead, they embraced what he described as “Trauma-Informed Design” — an approach rooted in listening, empathy, and trust-building.
It meant engaging a broader spectrum of voices than ever before, from families of victims and survivors to community members whose lives had been irrevocably altered. Every step was shaped by a commitment to ensuring that every voice was heard, Huckabee says.
It was about contributing to Uvalde’s collective healing. A building of renewal and remembrance.
“There has never been a more emotional project in our firm’s history,” Huckabee says. “The weight of what happened in Uvalde touched every member of our team. Many of us are parents ourselves, and all of us are deeply passionate about creating safe, inspiring places for children to learn. That made this work not just professional, but deeply personal.”
